Issues & Debates- Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches Flashcards
Idiographic approach -
Derived from the Greek ‘idios’ meaning ‘private or personal’. An approach to research that focuses more on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour (the nomothetic approach).
Nomothetic approach -
Derived from the Greek ‘nomos’ meaning ‘law’. The nomothetic approach attempts to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws.
What is the idiographic approach in psychology?
The idiographic approach attempts to describe the nature of the individual, studying people as unique entities with their own subjective experiences, motivations, and values, without comparing them to a larger group or norm.
What methods are associated with the idiographic approach?
The idiographic approach is associated with qualitative methods such as case studies, unstructured interviews, and self-report measures.
What is the central aim of idiographic research?
The central aim is to describe the richness of human experience and gain insight into an individual’s unique way of viewing the world.
What is the nomothetic approach in psychology?
The nomothetic approach aims to produce general laws of human behavior, providing a benchmark for comparing, classifying, and measuring people, and predicting or controlling future behavior.
What methods are associated with the nomothetic approach?
The nomothetic approach is associated with scientific methods like experiments, studying large numbers of people to establish similarities and differences.
What is an example of the idiographic approach in psychology?
Humanistic psychology, particularly the work of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, is an example of the idiographic approach, focusing on the conscious experience of the individual.
How is the psychodynamic approach related to the idiographic approach?
The psychodynamic approach is often labeled idiographic due to Freud’s use of case studies, though Freud also aimed to identify universal laws of behavior, aligning with the nomothetic approach.
What is an example of the nomothetic approach in psychology?
Behaviorist, cognitive, and biological psychology often use the nomothetic approach, such as Skinner’s laws of learning, cognitive studies on memory, and biological research on brain localization.
What is the case for the idiographic approach?
The idiographic approach provides a complete and global account of the individual, complementing or challenging general laws and generating hypotheses for further study.
What is a criticism of the idiographic approach?
The idiographic approach is narrow and restricted, with findings often relying on subjective interpretation, making generalizations difficult and conclusions open to bias.
What is the case for the nomothetic approach?
The nomothetic approach is scientific, using standardized conditions, statistical analysis, and prediction, giving psychology greater credibility and establishing norms of behavior.
What is a criticism of the nomothetic approach?
The nomothetic approach may overlook the richness of human experience, treating individuals as scores rather than people and ignoring subjective experiences.
How can the idiographic and nomothetic approaches be seen as complementary?
The two approaches can be used together, with idiographic methods providing detailed descriptions and nomothetic methods offering general laws, enriching the understanding of human behavior.
What is an example of combining idiographic and nomothetic approaches in research?
In gender development research, general patterns of behavior (e.g., Sandra Bem’s androgyny scale) are studied alongside case studies of atypical development (e.g., David Reimer).
What is the goal of modern psychology regarding idiographic and nomothetic approaches?
Modern psychology aims to provide rich, detailed descriptions of human behavior (idiographic) while explaining behavior within the framework of general laws (nomothetic).
Can you find examples of the idiographic and nomothetic approaches in attachment research?
In attachment research, the Strange Situation procedure (nomothetic) establishes general patterns of attachment styles, while case studies of individual attachment experiences (idiographic) provide detailed insights into unique relationships.
What is a criticism of the idiographic approach?
The idiographic approach is narrow and restricted, with findings often relying on subjective interpretation, making generalizations difficult and conclusions open to bias.
What is the case for the nomothetic approach?
The nomothetic approach is scientific, using standardized conditions, statistical analysis, and prediction, giving psychology greater credibility and establishing norms of behavior.
What is a criticism of the nomothetic approach?
The nomothetic approach may overlook the richness of human experience, treating individuals as scores rather than people and ignoring subjective experiences.
How can the idiographic and nomothetic approaches be seen as complementary?
The two approaches can be used together, with idiographic methods providing detailed descriptions and nomothetic methods offering general laws, enriching the understanding of human behavior.
What is an example of combining idiographic and nomothetic approaches in research?
In gender development research, general patterns of behavior (e.g., Sandra Bem’s androgyny scale) are studied alongside case studies of atypical development (e.g., David Reimer).
What is the goal of modern psychology regarding idiographic and nomothetic approaches?
Modern psychology aims to provide rich, detailed descriptions of human behavior (idiographic) while explaining behavior within the framework of general laws (nomothetic).
Can you find examples of the idiographic and nomothetic approaches in attachment research?
In attachment research, the Strange Situation procedure (nomothetic) establishes general patterns of attachment styles, while case studies of individual attachment experiences (idiographic) provide detailed insights into unique relationships.
