Idiographic vs Nomothetic Flashcards
Aim of the Idiographic Approach
Aims to describe the nature of the individual.
People are studied as unique people with their own experiences, motivation and values.
No attempt to compare them to larger group standards or a norm.
Methods used to research the Idiographic Approach
Uses methods that produce qualitative data:
case studies, unstructured interviews and other self-report measures.
Aim of the Nomothetic Approach
Aims to produce general laws of human behaviour.
These provide a ‘benchmark’ against which people can be compared, classified and measured, and on the basis of which, likely future behaviour can be predicted and/or controlled.
Methods used to research the Nomothetic Approach
Uses methods that would be regarded as ‘scientific’ such as experiments.
These involve the study of large numbers of people in order to establish ways on which people are similar
Examples of the Idiographic Approach
Humanistic Psychologists such as Maslow as he was against producing general laws.
Psychodynamic Psychologists such as Freud as he used case studies.
Examples of the Nomothetic Approach
Behaviourist Psychologists
Cognitive Psychologists
Biological Psychologists
