Holism and reductionism

• Holism definition


  A theory that proposes it is inappropriate to break up behaviour and experience and it can only be understood by analysing the person as a whole. Eg the humanistic approach which has developed a successful therapy bringing together all aspects of the individual
• reductionist definition


  A theory that breaks up human behaviour into smaller, simple constituent parts, its based on the idea that all ideas are best understood in the lowest level. eg the biological approach sees human behaviour as simplistic processes.
• levels of explanation


  are different ways of viewing the same idea in psychology, involves the reductionist hierarchy, sociology, psychology, biology, chemistry, physics, gets less holistic and more reductionist as you move down. one example is OCD

  socio-cultural level= odd and irrational, hand washing

  psychological=obsessive thoughts

  physical= sequence of movements

  physiological= hypersensitivity of the banal gangila

  neurochemical= neurotransmitters
• biological reductionism


  all things can be explained by a biological process on a biological level, by genetic influences, neurochemicals and evolution. eg the biological approach, the effects of psychoactive drugs on the brain which have contributed to understandings of mental health disorders at a bio level
• environmental reductionism


  the attempt to explain behaviour bu using a stimulus response link and learning through experience. eg behaviourist approach, they study observable behaviour only making behaviour a stimulus response and measurable within a lab. the most important level is physical, as it ignores any cognitive processes occurring at a psychological level
• case for and against for holism

  for= some aspects can only be studied when taking into account the individual, eg ash conformity study, individuals conformed as they didn't want to feel odd, nsi.

  another eg is conformity to social roles in Zimbardo's Standford prison, couldn't be understood by looking at the participants as individuals, but how they interacted within the group. this gives a more global understanding compared to reductionism.

  against= these approaches don't look at scientific testing and tend to be very vague and speculative as they become more complex. eg the humanistic approach has been critised for the lack of empirical testing and evidence, mearly just a loose set of concepts. also lower level approaches to certain issues eg, mental disorders may be more beneficial in developing therapies as it is difficult to establish what theory is the most influential.
• cases for and against reductionism

  for= often forms the scientific basis of research. it allows operationalised variables to be made ( due to breaking the behaviour down ) which makes it possible to create experiments and record observations in a meaningful and reliable way. this places psychology on equal terms with the natural sciences and increases the creditability.

  against: has been accused of oversimplifying complex ideas, eg reduces everything down to neurons and neurotransmitters, however ignores the social context in which the behaviour occurred in.

  eg pointing a finger, will be the same regardless of the social context, but it doesn't explain why, therefore is only half the explanation.