Summary of the Debate
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Reductionism
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Holism
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Listen to OCR Psychology's podcast on Reductionism v Holism debate here
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Don't worry that the clip says AQA - it is just as relevant to OCR
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Comparing the Debate with Other Debates
Free Will / Determinism
Determinism and reductionism have similar assumptions about behaviour being predictable and using a scientific approach to explain human behaviour.
Nature/nurture
The nature view is reductionist because it focuses on establishing cause and effect, particularly when investigating genetics. Nurture also tends to be reductionist as it suggests that upbringing and the environment directly cause behaviour, and this ignores the impact of personality.
Individual/ situational explanations
Situational explanations are often hard to quantify when explaining how other people and the environment causes behaviour and so a more holistic approach is needed.
Usefulness
Being reductionist is very useful when trying to develop treatments; but biological treatments may lack effectiveness in the long-term as behaviours return. Being holistic is useful for developing therapies that will work for individuals whereas reductionism helps the development of very measurable treatments
Ethics
Narrowing the cause of behaviour to single variables (reductionism) may cause psychologists to deceive Ps when they are researching or fail to get informed consent.
Psych as a Science
Being scientific tends to make the research and explanations of behaviour reductionist.
Socially sensitive research
Reductionist as often socially sensitive research focuses on a specific trait such as sex or race, as the cause of a behaviour.
Free Will / Determinism
Determinism and reductionism have similar assumptions about behaviour being predictable and using a scientific approach to explain human behaviour.
Nature/nurture
The nature view is reductionist because it focuses on establishing cause and effect, particularly when investigating genetics. Nurture also tends to be reductionist as it suggests that upbringing and the environment directly cause behaviour, and this ignores the impact of personality.
Individual/ situational explanations
Situational explanations are often hard to quantify when explaining how other people and the environment causes behaviour and so a more holistic approach is needed.
Usefulness
Being reductionist is very useful when trying to develop treatments; but biological treatments may lack effectiveness in the long-term as behaviours return. Being holistic is useful for developing therapies that will work for individuals whereas reductionism helps the development of very measurable treatments
Ethics
Narrowing the cause of behaviour to single variables (reductionism) may cause psychologists to deceive Ps when they are researching or fail to get informed consent.
Psych as a Science
Being scientific tends to make the research and explanations of behaviour reductionist.
Socially sensitive research
Reductionist as often socially sensitive research focuses on a specific trait such as sex or race, as the cause of a behaviour.