IDIOGRAPHIC AND NOMETHETIC

Question 1

Discuss idiographic and nomothetic approaches in psychology

Answer 1

• There is a debate between those who believe that human behaviour should be studied on an individual
  level, and those who believe that human behaviour should be studied on a large scale so that we can draw generalisable principles

Question 2

Idiographic

Answer 2

• The Idiographic approach focuses on the nature of the individual, and acknowledges everyone’s subjective experiences.
• It makes no attempt to compare people to larger groups, standards or norms.
• This is because the stance is not interested in psychology being a science, as humans are not the same as particles and thus cannot be studied in the manner.
• Humanistic psychologists take an idiographic stance as they’re more concerned with documenting the conscious experience of the individual and have created client centred therapy which is centred around the subjective experiences of the individual.

Question 3

Nomothetic approach

Answer 3

• approach focuses on establishing general laws, based on the study of large groups.
• This means that nomothetic researchers generally favour the use of experiments, correlations, psychometric testing, etc. And use statistical techniques to analyse data.
• Biological psychologists take a nomothetic approach when explaining psychological disorders such as OCD.
• They typically pinpoint biological factors such as neurotransmitters, in this case serotonin and dopamine, as being responsible for such disorders and use biological therapies such as drugs to treat all patients

Question 4

The idiographic approach provides a complete and global account of the individual.

Answer 4

• This is because they use multiple research methods to provide rich qualitative data. For example, they use case studies to get a complete holistic picture of the individual / human behaviour.
• This is an advantage as once fully
  understanding the various components of the behaviour, we can then come up with treatment for the person.
• Furthermore, a single case study may actually help generate hypotheses for further studies, such as HM’s brain damage means we are able to further understand the normal functioning brain

Question 5

The idiographic approach is not scientific.

Answer 5

• This is because it uses case studies which provide qualitative data that is open to subjective interpretation.
• For example, Freud’s theory of Oedipus complex is based upon a detailed study of one individual (Little Hans) and Freud interpreted it in a way to suit his theory.
• This is a disadvantage as case studies lack population validity and decreases psychology’s credibility as a science as it’s not objective.
• Furthermore, the inability to make meaningful generalisations
  contradicts the purpose of any science, resulting in a lack of control and predictability.
• Therefore, we are unable to fulfil the aim of a science which is to describe, explain, predict and change variables that affect the dependent variable.
• Therefore, further decreasing psychology’s credibility as a science

Question 6

The Nomothetic approach is considered to be scientific.

Answer 6

• This is because it uses lab experiments and controlled observations which provide us with quantitative data.
• These methods are highly
  controlled/standardised which allows us to identify a causal relationship.
• For instance, when measuring different types of attachment (using the strange situation paradigm) Ainsowrth used controlled observation.
• This is an advantage as it increases psychology’s credibility as a science, and identifying a
  causal relationship allows us to predict, prevent, and treat different behaviours as necessary.
• Furthermore, nomothetic research allows us to treat a large number of people in a cost effective way which means studying treatments from this stance is beneficial to the economy

Question 7

The Nomothetic approach has been accused of losing the whole individual in psychology.

Answer 7

• This is because participants are not treated as individual people with a subjective experience but as scores.
• For example, knowing there is a 1% lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia doesn’t tell us much about the feelings/experience of a person.
• This is a disadvantage as it overlooks the richness of human experience, and subjective experiences are ignored