Final answer:
A "holistic" view means analyzing all interrelated aspects of society, such as culture, economy, politics, and social elements, to understand the complex relationships and changes within the society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Saying that we need to take a "holistic" view of a society under study means that one must consider all the interrelated components of the society in question, including its cultural, economic, political, and social elements. This method of analysis recognizes that these different realms of culture are constantly influencing each other and changing over time. For example, in the case of African societies where infant death rates decreased, a holistic approach would explore not just healthcare but also social practices, economic conditions, and governmental policies to understand the full picture of what contributed to this positive change. Similarly, when studying social issues like polarization in American society, holism examines how economic experiences, political beliefs, and moral values contribute to this divide, with the aim of finding solutions that consider the interconnectivity of these factors. Furthermore, changes in one aspect of society, like the shift to cocoa farming in Ghana and its impact on gender relations, illustrate the interconnected nature of different societal components within a holistic framework.