Reductionism and Holism

Created by

LilyHaste7

Cards (14)

What is Reductionism?
The view that we can understand things by breaking them down into simpler parts.
What is Holism?
The view that, to understand something, we must look at it as a whole.
As we go down the levels of explanation (within psychology) the explanations are seen as more reductionist.
The most reductionist level of explanation is a biological explanation, because it involves explaining behaviour in terms of the simplest parts: tiny genes in the body.
What is biological reductionism?
When we explain behaviour in terms of neurotransmitters, hormones and genes.
What is environmental reductionism?
When we explain behaviour in terms of stimulus and response.
Where do each of the approaches stand on the reductionism vs holism debate?
Reductionist explanations are scientific because they reduce behaviour down to cause and effect relationships that are empirically testable, and therefore falsifiable.
Very holistic explanations can’t be studied scientifically, because they insist that we shouldn’t break down behaviour into cause and effect relationships.
What is the principle of parsimony?
If there are several different explanations that completely explain something we should choose the simplest explanation.
What strengths are there of the Reductionist approach?
Supported by principle of parsimony
Can be used to treat symptoms of mental disorders
What limitations are there of the Reductionist approach?
Can be more effective to consider more holistic explanations (CBT with relapse rates)
In the reduction-holism debate, interactionism is the interaction between different levels of explanation. One advantage of interactionism is that it fits the evidence we have about the causes of conditions like depression.
What are the 2 problems with interactionism (in relation to the reductionism vs holism debate)?
Involves more holistic levels of explanation, which are difficult to test scientifically
Violates the principle of parsimony