holism vs reductionism

• main question?

  • what is the best way to understand huma behaviour?
• define holism?

  • in order to understand complex human behaviour we should look at whole person/system instead of breaking it down into components
• example of holism?

  • humanistic approach - looks at individual as a whole rather than set of stimuli & that we cant reduce behaviour down to simple components
• define reductionism?

  • belief that complex human behaviour is better explained by breaking it into simple components
  • by explaining a phenomenon in terms of its constituent parts
• example of reductionism?

  • in attachment where it says we form an attachment through food
  • this is taking complex human behaviour of attachment & reducing it down to simplistic components that being we learn it due to food
• levels of explanations?

  • suggests that different explanations of same phenomena can vary:
  • vary from those at lower fundamental levels - focus on basic components/units
  • to this at higher levels - more holistic
• 2 types of reductionism?

  1. biological
  2. environmental
• lowest level of explanation?

  • biological - neurochem/genetics/brain structure
  • eg maoal gene causes aggression
• middle level of explanation?

  • psychological - cognitive/behavioural/emotional
  • eg social PSYCHOLOGICAL explanation - frustration aggression hypothesis
• highest level of explanation?

  • social & cultural - social groups
  • eg SOCIAL psychological - deindividuation leads to aggressive behaviour
• biological reductionism?

  • involves reducing human behaviour to idea that its due to our biology
  • includes genetics/brain structure/neurochem
• example of biological reductionism?

  • aggression - maoal gene causes aggression & reduces complex behaviour of aggression down to its most simplistic component 0 biology
• environmental reductionism?

  • reduces human behaviour to idea thats its due to stimulus response
  • behaviour is learnt through experience
• example of environmental determinism?

  • psychopathology - 2 process model says we learn phobia due to classical conditioning
  • we associate phobic object with frightening experience creating conditioned stimulus response
  • maintained through operant conditioning - negative reinforcement
  • reduces complex behaviour of phobias down to its most simplistic component that we learn them
• 2 X of reductionism?

  1. better explanation
  2. too simplistic
• * scientific - reductionism?

  • break down human behaviour to its most simplistic constituent parts & focuses on just 1 part
  • means we can focus on 1 area in great detail as behaviour is reduced to isolated variables so likely to be scientific
  • bio reduc - levels of testosterone can be empirically measured leading to ability to manipukate levels of hormone & assess role it plays in eliciting aggressive behaviour
  • allows researchers to study different factors that influence human behaviour in controlled manner whilst establishing causal relationships
• X better explanation - reductionism?

  • instead of reducing behaviour down to just one component can be argued that multiple things cause behaviour
  • eg diathesis stress model suggestd were biologically predisposed to behave in certain way but not shown until triggered by factor in environment.
  • problem using reduc to understand human behaviour as behaviour could be down to multiple components & not just 1 simple concept suggesting that overall a more holistic approach to explaining behaviour may be more appropriate
• * practical application - reductionism

  • simplifying explanation of behaviour down to simple components - imbalance of nt leads to development of useful reduc treatments - drug therapy
  • eg sz patient are treated with antipyschotic following biologically reduc explanation - hypodopaminergia
  • effectiveness of treatments can be empirically tested by drug trials/placebos see if cause of symptoms are physical/psych to determine best course of treatment.
  • beneficial in helping lives of many ppl
  • effective treatment for disordered behaviours helps ppl get better & go back to work + contributes to economy
• X too simplistic?

  • takes complexity of human behaviour & reduces it down to its most simplistic component
  • eg aggression is explained by action of 1 gene - MAOAL gene
  • belief that behaviour consists of nothing more than imbalance of neurochem means that other factors are ignored - life experiences - learn through role models - psychodynamic exp - cognitive deficits.
  • too simplistic to reduce behaviours down to simple components may be multiple factors involved in behaviour so treatments for conditions thatve been developed by taking bio reduc stance reduces symptoms & doesnt address cause
• 2 * of reductionism?

  1. practical application
  2. scientific