idiographic and nomothetic approaches Flashcards
what is the idiographic approach?
A method of investigating behaviour which focuses on individuals and emphasises their uniqueness. Subjective and rich human experience is used as a way of explaining behaviour, without the aim of developing general principles and unifying laws (which is the view of the nomothetic approach).
examples of the idiographic theory: the psychodynamic approach
Freud used case studies and in-depth interviews to
collect qualitative data from Little Hans; data which later formed the basis of the Oedipus and Electra complexes. However, Freud also established his psychosexual stages
of development on the basis of similar research methods, arguing that all children pass through the same sequence of stages. This is more similar to a nomothetic approach.
examples of the idiographic theory: the humanisitic approach
The humanistic approach adopts a holistic and ‘phenomenological’ approach to research, which focuses on the experience of the individual. Such research methods were then used to develop the client-centred approach to therapy and Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs.
what scientific method is the idiographic approach associated with?
Associated with methods that produce qualitative data. These methods include studying the individual and not groups and therefore not generalising findings to others. An example is the study of HM and KF, where the idiographic approach was used in the form
of case studies, and informed further research into the different types of long-term
memory.
what is the nomothetic approach?
Seeks to formulate general laws of behaviour based on the study of groups and the use of statistical, quantitive techniques. It attempts to summarise the
differences between people through generalisations, whilst developing general laws and unifying principles which can be used to accurately predict and control behaviour.
what 3 general laws does the nomothetic approach produce according to which psychologists?
According to Radford and Kirby, the nomothetic approach has produced 3 general laws in
psychology:
- classifying people into groups
- establishing the principles of behaviour that can be applied to people in general
- establishing dimensions along which people can be placed, compared, measured
what scientific method is the nomothetic approach associated with?
This method is associated with the scientific method such as laboratory experiments and
controlled observations, where the influence of extraneous and confounding variables are
removed, allowing reliable conclusions to be drawn.
examples of the nomothetic approach: behaviourst approach
Behaviourists explain all behaviour in terms of simple stimulus-response links which have been learnt through experience. In order to collect valid and reliable data, behaviourists often use laboratory experiments, where strict control upon extraneous
and confounding variables allows for a ‘cause and effect’ relationship between variables
to be established.
examples of nomothetic approach: the cognitive approach
The cognitive approach uses objective methods of measuring brain activity, such as EEG and PET scans. This allows cognitive psychologists to draw inferences about the
workings of mental processes.
examples of nomothetic approach: the biological approach
The biological approach also makes use of brain scans to make inferences about localisation of brain function. For example, the use of PET scans by Tulving et al. helped to establish that semantic memories were recalled from the left prefrontal cortex, whilst episodic memories were recalled from the right prefrontal cortex.
objective vs subjective
the nomothetic approach values objectivity, aiming to establish general laws of behaviour through standardised, unbiased methods, allowing for replication across samples. in contrast, the idiographic approach emphasises subjectivity, focusing on the individuals unique experiences rather than seeking an objective reality or universal truths.
