3.1.4 Holism & Reductionism

• Reductionism = the idea that all complex behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into smaller parts
• Holism = the idea that the behaviour of the whole system cannot be explained in terms of the ‘sum’ of the behaviour of all the different parts; Gestalt psychologists
• Biological Reductionism = our behaviour is at some level biological; can be explained by neurochemical, neurophysiological, evolutionary and genetic factors (Biological Approach)
• Environmental Reductionism = all behaviour is learnt and acquired in the same way, through interactions in the environment (Behaviourist Approach)
• Levels of Explanation = ways to understand behaviour and how it is related to other things.
• Levels of Explanation: Holism

  • Highest level of explanation, takes into account all aspects of a person’s experience
• Levels of Explanation: Biological Reductionism

  • most basic level in psychology
• Levels of Explanation: Psychological

  • Middle Level
• Case for Holism/against Reductionism

  • Some behaviours can only be understood at a group level not individual
• Case for Reductionism/against Holism

  • Lends itself to scientific testing
• Case against reductionism

  • Oversimplifies complex phenomena; may be viewed as a way to confirm racial differences