Holism and reductionism

• Define the holism and reductionism debate in Psychology.

  The holism and reductionism debate considers whether we should explain behaviour by focusing on the whole person (holistic) or by breaking behaviour down into basic components (reductionist).
• Outline what is meant by ‘levels of explanation

  Levels of explanation in Psychology refer to how behaviour can be explained from a higher more holistic level to a lower more reductionist level.
• Outline what is meant by ‘levels of explanation

  A holistic explanation focuses on individuals as a whole and so considers the multiple wider factors that are involved in their behaviour.

  In contrast, reductionist explanations attempt to explain by behaviour by reducing it down to basic, singular components.
• Outline what is meant by ‘levels of explanationv

  These levels of explanations can therefore be represented in a hierarchy whereby sociological theories considering the wider society and various factors involved are considered holistic while biological theories focusing on the role of genetics or neurotransmitters are considered reductionist. The middle ground includes psychological theories such as those focusing on cognitions etc.
• Explain the difference between holistic and reductionist explanations.

  Holism argues that explaining human behaviour from a reductionist level is inadequate because human behaviour is far more complex than just being caused by basic units such as genetics.

  Holism therefore proposes that human behaviour needs to be explained by focusing on the whole system or person.

  This involves explaining human behaviour by considering the multiple variables involved and how they interact.
• Explain the difference between holistic and reductionist explanations.

  Reductionism argues that explaining human behaviour from a holistic level is too unscientific and complex.

  Reductionism therefore proposes that while multiple factors are often involved in human behaviour, it is best explained in terms of basic units/in the simplest way.

  Reductionism therefore refers to when complex human behaviour is explained by breaking it down into its most basic components.
• Give an example of a holistic explanation.

  Holistic explanations have considered how biological, psychological and social factors interact with one another to cause a complex psychological disorder. E.g. the diathesis-stress model for schizophrenia proposes that multiple factors interact with one another to lead to the development of schizophrenia. These include factors that can make the person more vulnerable to developing the disorder (e.g. genetics or early birth complications) as well as stressors that can trigger the onset of symptoms (e.g. family dysfunction, cannabis consumption).
• Give an example of a holistic explanation.

  Humanistic psychology is a holistic approach in that it proposes everybody is unique and so should be studied as a whole. E.g. Maslow looked at the various needs an individual requires (physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem) for them to self-actualize. Humanistic psychologists also relied on research methods such as interviews to gather detailed data so that behaviour can be explained from a multi-variable, holistic perspective.
• Define biological reductionism.

  Biological reductionism refers to when complex behaviour is explained by breaking it down into biological components such as genetics and neurochemical levels. Biological reductionism is therefore consistent with the biological approach to explaining behaviour.
• Give an example of biological reductionism.

  The biological explanations for schizophrenia are biologically reductionist in that they attempt to explain a complex disorder (schizophrenia) by breaking it down into biological components such as too much dopamine activity.
• Define environmental reductionism.

  Environmental reductionism refers to when complex behaviour is explained by breaking it down into stimulus-response learning. Environmental reductionism is therefore consistent with the behaviourist approach to explaining behaviour.
• Give an example of environmental reductionism.

  The two-process model as an explanation for phobias is environmentally reductionist in that it attempts to explain a complex disorder (phobias) by breaking it down into stimulus-response

  learning i.e. that they are developed through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
• Evaluate biological and environmental reductionism: led to the development of treatments.

  The focus on abnormal dopamine activity in people with SCZ led to the development of antipsychotic drugs that work by reducing dopamine activity. The focus on the role of conditioning in phobias led to the development of systematic desensitisation and flooding which aim to counter-condition phobias and prevent negatively reinforcing avoidance behaviours. This is a strength because these treatments are found to be effective and so reductionist explanations have merit.
• Evaluate biological and environmental reductionism: may overly simplify human behaviour.

  Despite twin studies finding that MZ twins have higher concordance rates than DZ twins, MZ twins never have 100% concordance rates. Research has found that not everybody who associates a neutral stimulus (e.g. a dog) with an unconditioned stimulus that produces fear (e.g. being bitten) develops a phobia. This is a limitation because it suggests that biological components such as genes and stimulus-response learning cannot fully explain why psychological disorders develop.
• Evaluate biological and environmental reductionism: research has come from animal studies.

  Biological studies have altered hormonal levels in rats in an attempt to establish theories for human behaviour. Behaviourist studies have involved classically and operantly conditioning animals such as dogs and rats. This is a limitation because this research fails to consider how society, higher-order cognitions and emotions influence human behaviours. This means that biological and environmental reductionism may not be appropriate when it comes to explaining complex human behaviour.
• Explain one strength of holism over reductionism: effective treatment programmes

  Holistic explanations consider the complexity of behaviour by considering multiple factors. This leads to treatments where they aim to tackle multiple factors that contribute to their disorder. Reductionist explanations simplify behaviour by reducing it down to basic components such as neurotransmitters. This is a strength of holism over reductionism because holistic treatments (e.g. the combination of drug therapy with a psychological therapy) are found to be more effective than reductionist treatments.
• Explain a strength of reductionism over holism: scientific approach to behaviour.

  It involves studying basic units of behaviour whereas holism considers how multiple complex factors are involved in human behaviour. This is a strength of reductionism over holism because basic units can be operationalised and measured objectively whereas subjective conclusions would need to be drawn about how multiple factors interact in holistic explanations.