Individual Differences Approach

Question 1

Assumptions of individual differences?

Answer 1

• identifies what factors cause some individuals not to behave in ways which might be expected
• That the general rules established about normal behaviour cannot be applied to everyone as not everyone fits this
• Takes into account abnormalities, personality and inelligence
• That to understand the complexity of human behaviour its necessary to study the differences between people rather than those things that we all have in common.

Question 2

advantages of ID?

Answer 2

• uses case studies, which are in depth longitudinal and useful in describing experience of unusual cases. They can improve our understanding of unique individuals and help with treatments
• its recognition of ID are an important element of people behaviour which is overlooked by others, Griffiths shows that cognition of regular gamblers such as irrational thinking help us to explain why some peeps are RG and some not, by focusing on differences it important contribution to psychology as an academic discipline

Question 3

Limitations of ID?

Answer 3

• unique cases of individuals means that extensive testing can be unethical but has ethnocentric bias and eco valid (thigpen 14months) invalid results
• although qualitative data produced its hard to interp and objectivity so can question validity (griffiths recorded everything they said)

Question 4

Similarities between ID and biological?

Answer 4

• both ideographic

Question 5

Differences between ID and biological?

Answer 5

• experimental vs case studies