Holism & Reductionist

Question 1

What is did the Gestalt Psychologists/Holistic Approach state:

Answer 1

• The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts

- Inappropriate to break up behaviour.

Question 2

What does humanistic psychology see successful therapy as

Answer 2

• Bringing all aspects of a whole person.

Question 3

What is reductionism?

Answer 3

• Break down behaviour into constituent elements.

Question 4

Parsimony -

Answer 4

• All phenomenon explained using basic principles.

Question 5

What are ‘Different Levels of Psycholgy’

Answer 5

Different ways of viewing the same phenomena. OCD

Question 6

The different levels of psychology include:

Answer 6

Sociocultural,Psychological,Physical,Physiological,

Neurochemical - Each level is more reductionist than before.

Question 7

Explain the Hireachy of Science:

Answer 7

• Precise & Micro at bottom
• General & Macro at top
• Research favour reductionist accounts - Psychology replaced by explanations from sciences lower in hireachy.

Question 8

What is Biological Reductionism

Answer 8

Behaviour is biological. Explained via neurochemical, neurophysciological, evolutionary & genetic influences.

Question 9

Biological Reducntionism can explain

Answer 9

Explanations/Treatments for disorders.

Question 10

What is Environmental Reductionism

Answer 10

Behaviourists study observable behaviour so break complex leaning into stimulus response links

Question 11

What type of level can explain Environmental Reductionism?

Answer 11

• Physical Level
• Does not concern with mental processes at psychological level. - Mind is a ‘Black Box’ - Irrelevant to understanding of behaviour