reductionism vs holism

Define reductionism

The scientific view that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into simpler component parts

Example of reductionism

Occams Razor - the answer to any problem is often the simplest explanation

Define biological reductionism

Refers to the way psychologists reduce behaviour to its physiology and explain behaviour in terms of genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones and biological structures

Example of biological reductionism

Schizophrenia - reducing it to a single component of dopamine

Define environmental reductionism

Reduces behaviour to a simple stimulus-response

Example of environmental reductionism

Attachment - classical conditioning - learnt associations (food, child, caregiver)

Define parsimony

The idea that complex behaviour should always be explained in its simplest parts

Define levels of explanation

Rose - argued that there are different levels of explanation

Include highest level of social and cultural explanations - middle psychological - lowest biological

Define holism

Human behaviour it too complex to be broken down into simpler component parts

Holism considers the whole individual as a sum of its parts

Example of holism

Maslows Hierarchy of needs - humans experience stimuli as a whole - consider all contributors

Evaluation of debate

Reductionism is scientific

Holism more effective at explaining behaviour and looks at context - considers complexity of human behaviour

Holistic treatments are more effective long term - Craighead + Dunlop - CBT in combination with drug therapy