Final answer:
Methodological individualism explains social phenomena by actions of individuals, while methodological holism examines society as a system. Holism aligns with anthropological approaches to culture and is exemplified by cross-cultural studies of cognitive processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In social sciences, there is a debate between methodological individualism (mism) and methodological holism (mosm). Methodological individualism posits that all social phenomena can ultimately be explained by looking at the decisions and actions of individuals. Conversely, methodological holism argues that social phenomena are best understood by looking at the society or system as a whole, as it is greater than the sum of its parts.
For example, to understand a trend like the decrease in infant death rates in rural Africa, methodological individualism would focus on the actions of individual parents or healthcare providers, while methodological holism would examine the societal structures, cultural practices, and governmental policies. Holism aligns with the anthropological approach that emphasizes understanding how different realms of culture are interconnected, without reducing explanations to individual components.
An example of mosm in practice can be seen in studies like those by Masuda and Nisbett, where Japanese individuals tend to take a more holistic view when attending to contexts compared to Americans who are more analytical. This shows how cultures can influence cognitive processes and how methodological holism can provide a broader understanding of social phenomena.