Idiographic v Nomothetic

Question 1

What is a Idiographic approach?

Answer 1

• Focused on the individual and their own personal experience
• Uses qualitative research methods (e.g. case studies, unstructured interviews, thematic analysis) as allows for deeper insight into behaviour
• Does not attempt to make general laws to apply to others

Question 2

Examples of Idiographic Approach

Answer 2

• KF - poor auditory memory (PL loop) but visual unaffected (VS sketch pad), STM not a unitary store
• Clive Wearing - LTM, good procedural (piano), good knew he had kids (episodic), did not know their names (semantic)
• Little Hans (Freud) - feared white horse with blinker as looked like dad (white and has glasses), evidence of oedipus complex
• Humanistic Approach - Roger’s CCT/PCT

Question 3

What is a Nomothetic approach?

Answer 3

• Attempts to establish general laws of behaviour based off studies with large groups of participants - use testable hypothesis
• Uses quantitative methods of data collection (e.g. experiments, correlations and meta-analysis) and statistical techniques because allows them to quantify large amounts data (reliable and generalisable to large number)

Question 4

Examples of a Nomothetic approach

Answer 4

• Biological Psychologists → use scientific methods to create general laws, bio fcators of OCD - drug treatments
• Psychopathology → DSM and ICD are nomothetic classification systems
• Behaviourists (Wundt, Pavlov, Skinner) → animal studies resulting in create general laws (classical+operant) applied to humans and used in treatments - Phobias (Flooding + SD)
• Social Psychologists (Asch, Milgram) → role of situational factors on conformity and obedience

Question 5

Which approaches are Idiographic?

Answer 5

Humanism
Psychodynamic (slightly)

Question 6

Which approaches are Nomothetic?

Answer 6

Biological
Behaviourism
Cognitive

Question 7

What is the Integrated approach? + Examples

Answer 7

• Psychologists should take an integrated approach (I+N) to fully understand behaviour
• Psychology benefits from a mixed methods approach where I and N compliment and challenge each other
  
  • E.g. Eysenck criminal personality mixes general laws (the criminal personality) and individual score in EPQ
  • E.g. Cognitive approach mixes general laws and in depth techniques

Question 8

Implication of Idiographic approach (predictions)

Answer 8

• ✅ Predict
  
  • We can only predict behaviour is we build our understanding through in depth analysis of single behaviours
  • This increases the validity/accuracy of findings vs relying on statistics

Question 9

Consequence of Idiographic approach (qualitative)

Answer 9

• ❌ Qualitative methods (H)
  
  • Qualitative methods are unscientific and subjective so can’t create general rules/conclusions
    
    • They are also time consuming
  • Limited usefulness when applied to treatments and disorders, validity and reliability issues
  • (H) Whilst we can’t generalise from idiographic, can be used to generate new ideas and hypothesis

Question 10

Implication of Nomothetic approach (quantitative)

Answer 10

• ✅ Quantitative Methods
  
  • Scientific, means we can predict behaviour objectively = useful
  • Also allows to it to be replicated easier
  • Can be confident in statistics

Question 11

Consequence of Nomothetic (treatments)

Answer 11

• ❌ Treatments
  
  • A nomothetic approach advocates for a 1 size fits all/general treatment e.g. drug treatments
  • Whereas talking therapies and more suitable as they adopt a more person centred, idiographic approach

Question 12

Consequence of Nomothetic approach (individual)

Answer 12

• ❌ Individuals
  
  • The trends observed will not be representative of all individuals
  • Therefore taking a purely nomothetic approach could lead to misinterpretation - less accurate/effective treatments
  • Using a fixed criteria for assessment and treatment e.g. DSM is a superficial way to understand behaviour, lacking validity