Lecture1-Basics Flashcards
What is the lay view
The fact that we all have our own implicit theories that make us assume we understand others, subject to confirmation bias as often we only see certain individuals in certain contexts, we don’t look to test our theories.
Cite the four basic kinds of difference
Inter-personal (between 2 or more persons)
intra-personal (within one same person)
Inter-group (2 or more groups from each other)
Intra-group differences (how people differed within one group)
What are three ontological (philosophical) differences on individual differences, describe each
- REALISM: What we perceive is there and always will be
- RELATIVISM: Reality only exists in relation to the observer, it is socially constructed
-CRITICAL REALISM : Reality exists out there but is mediated by cultural and discursive factors.
What is essentialism, what other notion does it relates to?
Things have fixed characteristics or attributes, this is a positivist view which means it only acknowledges what can be scientifically verified.
In research, what is the IDIOGRAPHIC method? Cite one limitation too.
The idiographic method puts emphasis on the uniqueness of the individual, look at developing an in-depth understanding of the person, gather data through interviews, diaries, treatment sessions. Limitation: it can be hard to generalize the data
What is the NOMOTHETIC method and cite one limitation?
Focuses on similarities and differences between groups of individuals (the individual is only unique in the way their traits combine) - wants to identify a basic general structure of a personality or disorder universally applicable. Limitation: Can be superficial.
What is social constructionism?
Asks us to look at the beliefs we have of an individual, the social world and the interaction between the two.
Things that are generally viewed as natural or normal in society, such as understandings of gender, race, class, and disability, are socially constructed, and consequently aren’t an accurate reflection of reality.
