ID - Idiographic and Nomothetic

Question 1

Idiographic

Answer 1

• Focuses on the uniqueness of the individual
• It looks at in-depth detail and subjective experiences
• For example the case of patient HM

Question 2

Nomothetic

Answer 2

• Aims to establish general laws of behaviour that apply to many people
• Focuses on similarities between people and gaining objective knowledge

Question 3

Evaluation of idiographic approach

Answer 3

• It uses qualitative methods of investigation which allows for a more complete and in-depth account. This may support existing theories, or even challenge general laws (nomothetic)
• For example the case study of patient HM challenged the existing theories about memory as it proposed memory is not a single process but rather involves different systems
  But…
• Meaningful generalisations cannot be made without further research. Many of the criticism of Freud for example, is that many of his key concept were largely based on single case studies like Little Hans

Question 4

Evaluation of nomothetic approach

Answer 4

• Nomothetic research tend to be more scientific , using standardised conditions
• Such processes have allowed for psychologists to establish norms of ‘typical’ behaviour (such as the average IQ of 100)
  But…
• You may ‘loose the whole person’ due to trying to establish general laws
• Can highlight the ‘what’ of behaviour but not ‘why’; for example a large data set cannot explain the subjective experiences of individuals which means it may lack external validity
• Samples may not always be large enough to provide general laws of behaviour