Dictionary of British Education
A belief held by some psychologists and others that it is possible to explain a complex phenomenon by breaking it down into smaller parts and explaining the individual constituents. Behaviourist psychology is said to be reductionist because it claims to explain the whole of human behaviour in terms of the two concepts—stimulus and response.
Similarly, the behavioural objectives approach to curriculum planning is said to be reductionist because it reduces the learning process to a series of behavioural changes which can be measured. In psychology, an opposite point of view is held by Gestalt psychologists. In curriculum studies, the opposite point of view would be taken by those describing themselves as humanistic. (See also behaviourism, objectives)
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