Reductionism is a theory in psychology centered on reducing complex phenomena to their most basic parts.
The reductionist approach is often contrasted with holism, which is focused onlooking at things as a whole.
Overview of the Reductionist Approach
A reductionist approach is used in many disciplines, including psychology.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Reductionism can be quite helpful in sometypes of research.
However, in many cases, the sum is much more than simply the total of its pieces.
Complete items have what are known asemergent propertiesthat are simply not present in their smaller pieces.
Reductionism can be used within psychology to study this field on a few different levels.
Higher-level uses of the reductionist approach may take a broader look atdifferent psychology topics.
While this process often involves oversimplifying things, there are ways in which reductionism can be useful.
This allows researchers to focus on a specific problem.
For example, researchers might utilize the reductionist approach when studying a psychiatric condition such as depression.
Few things have only one simple cause.
Additionally, complex systems are dynamic and always changing.
The MBTI, for example, suggests that personality can be broken down and understood as four different dimensions.
Biopsychology
Biopsychology is centered on understandinghow biological processes contribute to human behavior.
This represents a reductionist approach because researchers are focused on a specific part of the human experience.
To treat the issue, they may recommend medications that deal with it on a physiological level.
Research using reductionism has not provided conclusive explanations as to a biological basis for mental disorders or psychopathologies.
Behaviorism
Thebehaviorist approach to psychologyfocuses on how interactions with the environment contribute to learning and human behavior.
A behaviorist might look at a psychological condition in terms of how present behavior is due to past learning.
To treat the condition, a behaviorist would recommend utilizingbehavior modification techniquesto weaken old associations and form new ones.
Cognitive Psychology
The cognitive approach focuses on studying howinternal mental processescan be carefully and objectively studied.
They might recommend a treatment approach centered on changingunhealthy cognitionsto replace them with more positive, realistic ones.
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