Issues and debates - Topic 5

Holism and redcutionism

What is the holism-reductionsim debate and define each term.

The holism-reductionism debate asks whether psychology should study behaviour as a whole or break it down into constituent parts. Holism proposes that it only makes sense to study a whole system. For example, the humanistic approach. Reductionism is based on the scientific principle of parsimony(that all phenomena should be explained using the simplest principles.

What are the levels of explanation. (highest from lowest) In OCD explanation

1. Socio-cultural level: behaviour most people would regard as odd(repetitive handwashing). 2. Psychological level- the individuals experience of having obsessive thoughts. 3. Physical level- the sequence of movements involved in washing ones hand. 4. Environmental/behavioural level- learning experience(conditioning). 5. Neurochemical level_ underproduction of serotonin. The highest is the least reductionist and the lowest is the most reductionist.

What are the types of reductionism.

Biological reductionism suggest all behaviour can be explained through neurochemical, physiological, evolutionary and genetic influences. For example, drugs that increase serotonin are used to treat OCD. Therefore low serotonin may be a cause of OCD.  Environmental reductionism proposes that all behaviour is acquired through interactions with the environment(conditioning). For example, the learning theory of attachment reduces the idea of love to a learned association between the mother and food resulting in pleasure.

LIMITATION(1) OF HOLISM

P-One limitation of holism is that it may lack practical value.

E- Holistic explanations can become overly complex, making them difficult to apply in practice. For example, if multiple factors contribute to depression, it becomes challenging for researchers and clinicians to identify which influences are most significant and should be prioritised in treatment.

E- This suggests that holistic accounts may lack practical value whereas reductionist account may be better.

L- Therefore, limited practical use may reduce holisms real world applicability further reducing its usefulness making reductionism a more suitable account to use.

STRENGTH OF REDUCTIONISM

P- One strength of reductionism is its scientific status.

E- For example, to conduct well controlled research, variables need to be operationalised(target behaviours broken down into constituent parts). This makes it possible to conduct experiments or record observations in a way that is objective and reliable.

E- This scientific approach gives psychology greater credibility, placing it one equal terms with the natural sciences.

L- Therefore, this increases the usefulness and validity of the reductionist approach, as it has strengthened psychology’s overall credibility as a scientific discipline.

Counterpoint of the strength

P- However, the reductionist explanation may be considered an incomplete explanation.

E- For example, Reductionist explanations at the level of the gene or neurotransmitter do not include an analysis of the context within which behaviour occurs and therefore lack meaning.

E- : This suggests that while reductionism can identify biological mechanisms, it cannot fully explain behaviour on its own and misses how environmental or social factors interact with biology.

L- Therefore, reductionist explanations may have limited reliability, as focusing only on genes or neurotransmitters may produce inconsistent results across different contexts, highlighting the need for holistic approaches.

LIMITATION(2) of reductionism

P- One limitation of reductionism is the need for higher level explanations.

E- There are aspects of social behaviour that only emerge within a group context and cannot be understood in terms of individual. For example, SPE couldn’t be understood by observing participants as individuals, it was the behaviour of the group that was important.

E- This shows that, for some behaviours higher level explanations provide a more valid account.

L- Therefore, this reduces the usefulness of reductionist explanations making holistic views more appropriate and suitable account to use.