Reductionism vs Holism

• Holism is the idea that it only makes sense to study a whole system. For example, the humanistic approach focus on experience which cant be reduced to smaller units.
• Reductionism is the idea that we can explain complex systems (e.g. human behaviour) by reducing it down to its smaller parts.
• Enviromental reductionism is the idea that all behaviour is learned through interactions with the environment.
• strength) reductionism makes research more scientific because it breaks down complex behaviours into measurable parts. For example, studying neurotransmitters in depression allows for lab experiments and objective data. This gives psychology credibility as a science.
• Limitation) By focus too much on basic parts, reductionism can ignore important contex or social/environmental factors. For example, explaining depression only through biology ignores life experiences or cognitive patterns.
• strength) Holism is relevant to real life because it looks at the whole person when trying to understand complex behaviours. For example, in humanistic psychology or family therapy its more helpful to consider the full experience, not just one part.