individual differencs area

Question 1

what does the individual differences area study?

Answer 1

-psychology of the person
-what makes us unique in our thinking, feeling, behaviour- idiographic approach
-allows us to understand abnormal behaviours like phobias, autism

Question 2

what are the key assumptions?

Answer 2

-individuals differ in behaviour and personal characteristics, not everyone can be considered the average person, we should focus on these differences to explain behaviour

-all human characteristics can be measured and quantified, we can distinguish differences by comparing these characteristics

-behaviour is caused by the individuals disposition rather than the situation

Question 3

what does nomothetic mean?

Answer 3

similarities that you share within your characteristics

Question 4

what are strengths of the individual differences area?

Answer 4

• allows psychologists to learn more about human behaviour as all behaviours studied (Freud- phobia, Baron-Cohen, understand autistic individuals and how they can be helped) useful

-high in ecological validity as often in natural environment (Freud- little Hans home)

Question 5

What are weaknesses of the individual differences?

Answer 5

-research methods may be subjective, lower external validity (Freud- case study, Hancock- semi structured)

-ethics can lead to labelling (Hancock label as psychopaths)