Idiographic And Nomothetic Approaches

Question 1

Focus on the individual:

Answer 1

A strength of the idiographic approach is that it focuses on the individual

the nomothetic approach to seeking universals in behaviour may draw our attention away from individual differences whereas the idiographic approach allows for a deeper understanding of human behaviour

Question 2

Scientific basis:

Answer 2

An advantage of the idiographic approach is that it uses scientific methods

The idiographic approach seeks to be objective (scientific) and uses evidence-based qualitative approaches such as reflexivity to identify the influence of any biases

Question 3

Being able to make predictions:

Answer 3

A flaw in the idiographic approach is his inability to produce general predictions about behaviour which is limiting

General predictions are useful for producing drugs for mental illnesses as it is far too time-consuming to produce personal therapies

Although Allport argues that the idiographic approach does enable predictions because once detailed observations are built, generalisations and theories can be formulated

Question 4

Combined methods:
Halt (1967)
Millon and Davis (1966)

Answer 4

H: argues that the ideographic nomothetic distinction is a force separation because inevitably generalisations are made

M&D: suggested that research starts with the nomothetic approach and once the laws had been produced they can then focus on a more ideographic understanding, thus the two approaches are combined