Holism vs Reductionism

Created by: Annagc
Created on: 10-06-19 13:26

What is holism?

It is referred to as Gestalt psychology, behaviour cannot be understood in terms of components but must be studied as a whole, psychologists study the whole person to gain an understanding of all factors including biological, environment and social

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What approaches and reserach methods does a holistic approach use?

Humanism, social and Gestalt, it uses case studies

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What is an example of a holistic explanation for behaviour?

Jahoda's 6 elements of optimal living as a way of defining abnormality

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Strengths of a holistic approach

Looks at everything that may impact behaviour, doesn't ignore complexity of behaviour, integrates different components to understand the person as a whole, higher ecological validity

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Limitations of a holistic approach

Over complicates behaviour which may have a simpler explanation, doesn't use scientific methods and empirical testing, harder to determine cause and effect, neglects importance of bio. explanations, hard to study all factors of complex behaviour

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What is reductionism?

The belief that all human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into smaller component parts, the best explanations look as the simplest parts and use simple explanations to understand how they work

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What is an example of an approaches which uses a reductionist explanation?

Cognitive psychology's computer analogy reducs behaviour to the level of a machine, behaviourists see behaviour as a simple stimulus/response relationship, psychodynamic reduces behaviour to unconscious motivation

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Strengths of reductionism

It allows scientific study to be carried out as it requires the isolation of variables to identify the cause of behaviour e.g. genes involved in SZ, it can lead to the development of effective chemical treatments

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Limitations of reductionism

It can be overly simplistic as humans and their environment are complex so it doesn't give a full explanation, it doesn't address larger societal isses e.g. poverty

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Card 2

Front

What approaches and reserach methods does a holistic approach use?

Back

Humanism, social and Gestalt, it uses case studies

Card 3

Front

What is an example of a holistic explanation for behaviour?

Back

Card 4

Front

Strengths of a holistic approach

Back

Card 5

Front

Limitations of a holistic approach

Back

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Holism vs Reductionism