Holism vs Reductionism

• What is holism?

  Holism is the idea that behaviour must be looked at as a whole and due to this any attempts to subdivide behaviour into smaller units is inappropriate.
• What is reductionism?

  Reductionism is that idea that behaviour should be analysed by breaking it down into constituent parts and that behaviour should be explained from the most basic lowest level.
• What does the notion of 'levels of explanation' suggest?

  This suggests that there are different ways of viewing the same phenomena in Psychology. Some levels are more reductionist than others.
• What is the Socio-cultural level in the notion of 'levels of explanation'?

  This refers to the analysis of human behaviour and mental processes in the context of social interactions and cultural norms. The level emphasizes how individual actions and thoughts are influenced by social environments and cultural traditions.
• What is the psychological level in the notion of 'levels of explanation'?

  This level focuses on the mental processes and behavioural patterns of individuals. The level seeks to understand how cognitive functions, emotions, and learning experiences influence behaviour and thought. This is done by delving into the mechanisms of the mind and the ways in which individuals perceive, process, and respond to the world around them.
• What is the physiological level in the notion of 'levels of explanation'?


  This level focuses on the biological and physical processes that underlie behaviour and mental functions. The level examines how the body's structures and functions, particularly those of the nervous system and endocrine system, influence cognition, emotions, and behaviour.
• What is biological reductionism?

  When behaviour is reduced to the neurons, neurotransmitters, hormones, brain structures, etc.
• What is environmental reductionism?

  The belief that behaviour should be reduced to stimulus and response associations.
• What is parsimony?

  The idea that complex phenomena should be explained in the simplest terms possible.
• What is machine reductionism?

  This type of reductionism believes that mental processes can be understood by breaking them down into their most basic mechanical or computational components, much like the functioning of a computer.