Reductionism

• Reductionism

  An approach that breaks complex phenomena (e.g. human behaviour) into more simple components
• The principle of parsimony

  'When faced with two equally good hypotheses, always choose the simpler'
• The principle of parsimony

  • a problem solving principle that recommends using explanations that havve the smallest number of elements
• Biological reductionism

  Approach to research that lays its foundations in our biological makeup
• Biological reductionism

  • Schizophrenia is due to excessive activity of dopamine, and depression is due to a lack of serotonin reaching receptors 
• Environmental (stimulus response) reductionism

  Behaviour can be explained by looking at the relationship between behaviour and the environment (stimulus and response)