Individual Differences Approach Flashcards
Is it individual or situational?
Individual.
Is it useful?
Yes, Griffiths allows for better treatment for gamblers.
How is it defined?
Helps to understand the complexity of human behaviour and experiences, it’s necessary to study the differences between people rather than those things we have in common.
Which methods are used?
Self report, observations and case studies.
Why is Griffiths part of individual differences?
Each person had different verbalisations, i.e. “the machine hates me”
Why is Rosenhan in the approach?
It highlights how diagnosis is unreliable, one person diagnosed with manic depression. Average 19 days (7 to 52).
Why is Juby and Farrington in the approach?
411 boys studied, low educational attainment, some from broken/affluent homes, convicted mum or dad, IQ levels.
Why is Palmer and Hollin in the approach?
Identified the diff between offenders and non offenders by measuring moral reasoning.
What are some strengths of the approach?
- Can learn about behaviours so then can treat
- Number of factors looked at, less deterministic
- Can measure diffs between individual qualities
- In depth qual data can be gathered, and quan data
- High eco v
What are some weaknesses of the approach?
- Ungeneralisable
- Researcher bias as often case studies, lower reliablity
- Self reports, soc. desirability bias, less valid
- Unethical, Thigpen & Cleckley
- Can’t infer cause and effect as qual data
What methodological issues can it be linked to?
- Quan/Qual data
- Longitudinal/Snapshot
- Eco v
- Ethics
- Rel/Val
- Self report
- Case study
Which other approach can it be compared to and why?
The cognitive approach. Both look at differences in cognitive thinking patterns.
Which other approach can it be contrasted against and why?
Social. It focuses on group influence rather than the individual.
Is it reductionist or holistic, which study can be used as an example?
Holistic. Juby & Farrington as many factors are taken into consideration.
