Evaluation: key terms

Holism

This is the importance in understanding the human mind and behaviour as a whole

Idiographic

focuses on individual feelings, perceptions and emotions and collects qualitative data. The study of an individual

Practical application

The use of psychological concepts and methods in solving practical problems of human behaviour and experience.

Machine reductionism

where the brain is described as being similar to a computer

Nomothetic

The study of a large group to formualte laws and generalise behaviours to a population

reductionism

complicated behaviours can be explained by ‘reducing’ then imto small, simpler pieces

determinism

our behaviour is governed by internal or external forces which we have no control over

free will

the play an active role/ hav choices in how we behave

interactionist approach

argues that there are several levels of explanation necessary to explain a particular behaviour