Idiographic and Nomothetic approaches

Question 1

AO1: Idiographic approach

Answer 1

The ideographic approach sees each individual has unique with their own subjective experiences, values and motivation. It focuses on qualitative data such as self report methods, unstructured interviews and case studies. The aim is to gain an insight into unique way of viewing the world.

For example the humanistic approach takes on an idiographic perspective. Rogers and Maslow were focused on the persons conscious experience of the self. they called themselves anti-scientific and were more concerned about unique experiences than creating general laws on behaviour.