reductionism and holism

Question 1

define holism

Answer 1

an argument or theory that proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisible system

Question 2

define reductionism

Answer 2

reductionists analyse behaviour by breaking it down into its consistent elements

Question 3

who originally founded the holistic approach

Answer 3

a group of German researchers working 1920’s - 1930’s called Gestalt psychologists claimed

“the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”

Question 4

what approach utilises holism and how

Answer 4

humanistic psychology believes therapy should be bringing together all aspect of the self ( this created counselling)

Question 5

what scientific principle is reductionism based on and define this principle

Answer 5

based on scientific principle of

parsimony - all phenomena should be explained using the most basic (lower level) principles

Question 6

what are the levels of reductionism also known as

Answer 6

levels of explanation

Question 7

give the 6 levels of explaination

Answer 7

socio - cultural context
psychological level
physical level (movements)
environmental/behavioural
physiological level
neurochemical level

Question 8

explain development of OCD through the 6 levels of explanation

Answer 8

LEAST REDUCTIONIST

socio - cultural context
OCD affects social relationships

psychological level - person experiences anxiety

physical level (movements) - behaviours like hand washing

environmental/behavioural - learning behaviours to cope

physiological level - abnormal functioning of the frontal lobe

neurochemical level - under production of serotonin

MOST REDUCTIONIST

Question 9

put these approaches from least reductionist to most reductionist

biological, psychodynamic, humanistic, behaviourism, cognitive

Answer 9

LEAST REDUCTIONIST

humanistic
psychodynamic
cognitive
behaviourism
biological

Question 10

what is the most reductionist approach (lowest level)

Answer 10

biological

Question 11

what is the least reductionist approach (highest level)

Answer 11

socio cultural

Question 12

explain the concept of biological reductionism and an example of how it is useful in psychopathology

Answer 12

we are biological organisms made up of physiological structures processes

all behaviour is at some level biological and can be explained by evolution, genes, neurochemicals, brain structure

evidence - psychoactive drugs and their contribution to OCD/depression and schizophrenia

Question 13

explain the concept of environmental reductionism and give an example of how it is useful in attachment

Answer 13

behaviourist approach is built on environmental reductionism

behaviourists observe behaviour and break it down into simple stimulus response links

e.g: learning theory in attachment is due to classical conditioning (cupboard love theory)