Issues And Debates: Idiographic And Nomothetic

Question 1

The idiographic approach

Answer 1

• Attempts to describe the nature of the individual
• People are studied as unique entities
• Each person has their own subjective experiences ,motivations and values
• No attempt to compare groups

Question 2

Idiographic methods

Answer 2

Qualitative data
Case studies
Unstructured interviews
Any other self report methods

Question 3

The nomothetic approach

Answer 3

Aim is to produce general laws on human beh
Provide a benchmark for what people can be measured and controlled against
From this predictions can be made ab human beh Provide a

Question 4

Nomothetic methods

Answer 4

• Experiments which are tightly controlled
  • Gather lots of data from large numbers of people
  • Studying psychology in a scientific way

Question 6

Humanistic being idiographic

Answer 6

Concentrates on the “self”
Describes themselves as anti - scientists
Investigate unique expirence not trying to create a general law of beh

Question 7

Psychodynamic as idiographic and nom

Answer 7

Freud conducted research using case studies
Individual past experiences
But he did then try and create general laws eg psychosexual stages, tripartite personality so could argue as nom

Question 8

Cognitive as idiographic and nomothetic

Answer 8

Idiographic as we all have our own schemas based on our own different experiences
Uses case studies - memory eg KF CW PG
Nomothetic - likens our minds to computers with basic input output processing whereby its machine reductionist

Question 9

Slt as nomothetic

Answer 9

We all learn through mediational processs eg attention retention motor reproduction motivation
We learn through modelling and vicarious reinforcement

Question 10

Biological nomothetic

Answer 10

We all have brain structures that carry out the same processes and functions
We could posses certain candidate genes eg maoa aggression gene
We have the same synaptic control mechanisms using neurotransmitters

Question 11

Behavourist as nomothetic

Answer 11

Creates general laws eg reinforcement conditions associations w stimulus consequences and rewards
We all learn the same way from our environment

Question 12

Objective vs subjective

Answer 12

• Objectivity is important in a nomothetic approach
• You want to be able to test your theory in an empirical way and from this create general laws
• Subjectivity is important in an ideographic approach as an individual’s unique experience is the most important aspect and not trying to create general laws for individuals

Question 13

Case for idiographic

Answer 13

Uses in depth research methods
Complete global account of individual
Findings can serve as a source of ideas or hypotheses for later study
Focuses on indiv means they feel valued and unique

Question 14

Case against idiographic

Answer 14

Difficult to generalise one persons unique experience which is subjective to wider pop
Non scientific as subjective methods aren’t open to empirical testing
Largely neglects biological and genetic influences

Question 15

Case for nomothetic

Answer 15

Regarded as scientific
Has helped dev psych as scientific
Developing laws that are open to empirical testing
Combines biological and social aspects

Question 16

Case against nomothetic

Answer 16

• Predictions can be made about groups but these may not apply to individuals.
• Approach has been accused of losing sight of the
‘whole person’s
• Gives a superficial understanding - people may act the same but for different reasons.
• Extensive use of controlled laboratory experiments creates a lack of generalisation to everyday life.