Reductionism Flashcards
Define Reductionism
An explanation of a whole (system or illness) in terms of the units of which that whole is built.
Define Holism
Explanations should take a wider perspective, considering the interactions between the parts.
Arguments for Reductionism
Individual units are simple so they can be readily understood. By studying each unit, psychologists can isolate particular brain functions that work independently and biological structures involved. This makes memory easier to understand.
Arguments against Reductionism
Ignores interactions; represents complex behaviour in basic ways. By explaining a ‘whole’ exclusively in terms of its units, it’s likely to be perceived as a simple arrangement of the components. This simplicity can ignore interactions between components.
Humans are complex and isolation of variables is very difficult.
Social Examples of Reductionism
Social Impact Theory reduces obedience to an equation and ignores interaction and other factors.
Sherif resisted explaining prejudice at a dispositional level e.g. personality theories as he thought they were reductionist and believed prejudice was caused by interconnecting social processes.
Cognitive Examples of Reductionism
The MSM underplays the interconnection between different memory systems.
WMM divides STM into slave systems without recognising connections we need to acknowledge interplay between stores.
Biological Examples of Reductionism
Brain functioning as an explanation of aggression ignores other possible causes like social learning theory.
Evolutionary theory argues our behaviour can be simplified to evolutionary pressures from years ago.
Learning Examples of Reductionism
Classical and operant conditioning explain behaviour as due to stimulus-response connections, these are basic units used to explain complex behaviour.
Ignores other factors.
Arguments for Holism
Provides a more complete picture. Some behaviours can only be understood at the holistic level, such as the conformity and deindividuation of Zimbardo’s prisoners and guards in his experiment.
Research into resisting conformity done by Gamson on the role of social support in groups, makes use of holistic explanations by looking at the interactions in and between the groups.
Therefore holistic explanations may provide a more complete picture.
Arguments Against Holism
Difficult to investigate the differing types and levels of explanations. This poses a practical problem for researchers who attempt to combine many high level explanations as it becomes difficult to identify which is the most influential.
Holistic explanations may not lead to the development of effective treatments for mental health disorders.
Examples of Holism
Social Learning Theory considers the influence of models in the environment as well as the cognitive characteristics of the individual.
The WMM only considers STM, the MSM is more holistic looking at 3 levels of memory.
