Holism and Reductionism

• Holism


  'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts' - certain traits cannot be broken down into its constituent parts but stays as the whole theory
• Reductionism


  'The whole is equal to the sum of its parts' - traits need to be broken down into parts and explained in parsimony (lowest level of explanation)
• Reductionist levels of explanation


  • Socio-cultural
  • Psychological
  • Physical
  • Environmental
  • Physiological
  • Neurochemical
• Biological reductionism


  Suggests ALL behaviour can be explained through NEUROCHEMICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, EVOLUTIONARY or GENETIC INFLUENCES
• Environmental reductionism


  ALL behaviour is acquired through INTERACTIONS with the environment. (Behaviourists STIMULUS-RESPONSE MECHANISM)
• Reductionism can only form part of an explanation, as neurochemical explanations do not include analysis of the contexts of behaviour occurring
• Holism lacks practical value. Human behaviour becomes harder to explain using the holistic approach, making it difficult to know which behaviour is the most influential and important to treat in a therapist setting