Idiographic and Nomothetic Flashcards
What is the debate?
Whether psychology should focus its attention on the individual or people i general. Also whether it should produce generalities against which people can be compared or whether it should concern itself with what makes people unique.
What is the idiographic approach?
Involves studying a particular individual. Data generated is detailed and extensive. The sample will not be representative due to the uniqueness of the traits that the individual possesses. Comprised of case studies and unstructured interviews. These methods provide an in depth insight into individual behaviour. The idiographic approach does not seek to formulate general laws but is useful to generate new areas of research.
What is the nomothetic approach?
Associated with scientific measures that produce quantitative data. This involves testing a large sample to generate a large amount of data which should be representative of the larger population through experiments. The nomothetic approach is the main approach within scientifically oriented psychology as this approach produces general laws.
What general laws has the nomothetic approach produced in psychology?
According to Radford and Kirby
Classifying people into groups
Establishing principles of behaviour that can be applied to people in general
Establishing dimensions along which people can be placed, compared and measured
What is a combination approach?
Many behaviours must be considered from both perspectives. Millon and Davis suggests that research should start with a nomothetic approach, and once general laws have been produced, the focus should switch to an idiographic approach to help our understanding and theories.
IDIOGRAPHIC AND NOMOTHETIC - Idiographic approach allows for an in depth account of an individual’s traits and behaviour
Freud’s case study of Little Hans is about a five year old boy who was afraid of horses due to jealousy of his father stemming from an unresolved Oedipus complex. Demonstrates the idiographic research can determine why a behaviour occurs, helping us understand the origins of behaviour
IDIOGRAPHIC AND NOMOTHETIC - Nomothetic approach is highly scientific
Lab experiments such as Milgram use standardised procedures an attempt to control extraneous variables, which increases internal validity, so we can establish cause and effect.
IDIOGRAPHIC AND NOMOTHETIC - Nomothetic approach has broader practical applications than the idiographic approach
General laws allow for predictions of future behaviours, as identifying antidepressants to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain to alleviate the symptoms of depression in all people.
IDIOGRAPHIC AND NOMOTHETIC - Idiographic approach is not scientific
Relies on subjective interpretation and unique cases. Meaningful generalisations cannot be made without further examples, as there is no adequate baseline to compare behaviour. Conclusions are therefore open to researcher bias.
