holism & reductionism

• Holism - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Analysing component parts is not enough; it does not capture the whole person
• Reductionism - explaining a phenomenon by breaking it down into its constituent parts.
• Parsimony - complex phenomena should be explained by the simplest underlying principles possible
• The effect of conformity to social roles in Zimbardo's experiment could not be studied on one individual but it was the interaction of the group as a whole which was important. Therefore, holism provides a more complete explanation
• Holistic explanations are speculative and cannot be scientifically tested
• If researchers accept that many different factors may contribute to a disorder such as depression, it is difficult to find the most likely factor which has implications for providing the correct treatment
• A reductionist approach often forms the basis of scientific research allowing operationalised variables to be established.
• Simplifying complex behaviour into smaller less complex components can lead to a loss of validity
• Levels of explanation- how explanations vary from those at a lower level focusing on basic components or units in reductionism to those at a higher more holistic multivariable level as regarded by holism
• Biological reductionism - reducing behaviour to physiological levels e.g brain structures or genes
• Environmental reductionism - reducing behaviour to stimulus-response links which can be tested and explained using laboratory experiments
• reductionism allows experiments to be conducted in meaningful and reliable ways e.g Skinner, giving psychology greater credibility
• Interactionism considers how different levels of explanation may combine and interact
• an example of interactionism is the diathesis-stress model, which has been used to explain the onset of mental disorders such as schizophrenia
• The interactionist approach has helped develop a more holistic treatment for schizophrenia combining drug and family therapy