Holism and Reductionism

• What do many psychologists prefer when explaining behavior?

  A clear, precise explanation
• Why might someone be aggressive according to psychologists?

  Due to positive reinforcement of past aggression
• What is a benefit of having a reductionist explanation for behavior?

  It allows for testing simple explanations
• How can genetic tests help in understanding disorders?

  By identifying certain genes in populations
• What can drug treatments address in relation to behavior?

  Neurotransmitter imbalances
• What is a criticism of reductionist explanations of behavior?

  They may oversimplify complex interactions
• What do coping techniques learned in childhood influence?

  Adult behavior and mental health
• What is the debate between reductionism and holism about?

  The simplicity versus complexity of explanations
• What is reductionism in psychology?

  • Simplifying complex phenomena
  • Breaking down to simplest components
  • Testing individual elements empirically
• What principle is reductionism based on?

  Parsimony
• How do biological psychologists explain depression?

  By inherited genes influencing neurochemistry
• What do behaviorists argue about aggression?

  It is learned through reinforcement
• What is machine reductionism in cognitive psychology?

  Brain functions like a computer CPU
• What does holism argue about human behavior?

  It needs to include the whole person
• What are levels of explanation in psychology?

  • Vary from fundamental to holistic levels
  • Basic components to multivariable explanations
  • Different perspectives on the same behavior
• How might a social psychologist explain aggression?

  As influenced by cultural factors
• What do cognitive psychologists focus on regarding aggression?

  On schemas that interpret situations
• How do biological psychologists view aggression?

  As influenced by brain structures and neurochemicals
• What is an emergent property in the context of reductionism?

  Complex features arising from simple interactions
• What is a criticism of reductionism regarding human relationships?

  It oversimplifies complex emotional experiences
• What is a practical application of reductionism in psychology?

  Development of drug therapies
• What is a limitation of reductionism in psychological research?

  It ignores interactions between multiple causes
• What do holistic approaches emphasize in research?

  The importance of multiple interacting factors
• What is the goal of balancing reductionism and holism in research?

  To gather meaningful information
• What role do neurotransmitters play in behavior?

  They influence mood and behavior
• How do childhood experiences affect adult behavior?

  They shape coping techniques and responses
• Why is cultural context important in psychology?

  It shapes perceptions and behaviors
• What is the difference between idiographic and nomothetic investigations?

  • Idiographic: Focus on individual cases
  • Nomothetic: Focus on general laws and principles
• How does reinforcement relate to behavior?

  It strengthens behaviors through rewards
• Why is empirical testing important in psychology?

  It establishes cause and effect relationships
• What does parsimony mean in scientific explanations?

  The simplest explanation is preferred
• How do biological and environmental factors interact in behavior?

  They influence each other in complex ways
• What is consciousness considered in the context of reductionism?

  An emergent property of complex interactions
• How do social influences affect individual behavior?

  They shape norms and expectations