individual differences case studies

Question 1

what are the defining principles/ concepts?

Answer 1

. to understand human behaviour - have to see how people are different as well as the same

. everyone differs in personality and behaviour- no one is an average person
. believes a persons behaviour is unique to them - combination of biological and experimental factors - DNA, cognition and development

. individual disposition affects our behaviour - each person has their own experiences that influences how they behave.

Question 2

what are the strengths of individual differences?

Answer 2

considered holistic - concerned with all aspects of the individual - both in nature and nurture factors - to do this they often gather both quantitative and qualitative data

provides us with ways to objectively measure differences through psychometric tests which can allow us to diagnose disorders - good application

Question 3

what are the weakness of individual differences?

Answer 3

socially sensitive - mean findings from research could be used in a harmful way by people of political power - used to label/ discriminate groups of individuals

some methods are subject in nature - where research are working closely with group of pps - may become emotionally attached in some way