Holism & Reductionism AO3

Biological reductionism (+)

• SImpler and more precise explanation, as we state behaviour is always the result of physiological processes and structures, like oCD being caused by a damaged caudate nucleus, effectively measured by an fMRI

• Reductionist approaches could be considered more scientific and allows for nomothetic laws to be created. They tend to follow the idea of parsimony, keeping ideas as simple as possible. It is much easier to see one variable affecting another one, compared to varied and multi-faceted variables interacting with other variables.

• Using a biologically reductionist approach to understanding behaviour can be more useful to society

Useful Applications (+)

• Biological reductionism can generate useful biological treatments

• E.g. reducing the explanation for developing schizophrenia down to the activity of dopamine, they are able to produce antipsychotic medications that have seen great success in reducing the psychotic symptoms

• This has positive tangible effects in society, especially in the treatment of those with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia

Holism unscientific (-)

• Explanations can become vague and speculative as they become more complex e.g. humanistic psychology attempts to provide a more holistic view of human behaviour and tends to be criticised for a lack of empirical evidence

• Seen by many as a rather loose set of intangible concepts e.g. self-actualisation and congruence. This suggests that psychologists need to ensure they take into account different factors that can cause a behaviour, but in a measurable and falsifiable way to maintain credibility

Reductionist (-)

• Other explanations may be ignored and underplayed

• In the case of mental illness this could lead to a reoccurence of the issues as all the factors have not been considered e.g. by treating phobias with medication e.g. anti-anxiety pills, relapse can seem inevitable when medication stops