Idiographic and nomothetic approaches

• What is a strength of the idiographic approach?

  Its focus on the individual
• Why did humanistic and qualitative psychologists criticize the emphasis on measurement?

  They felt it lost sight of what it was to be human
• Who was the first to use the terms idiographic and nomothetic?

  Allport
• What did Allport argue was needed in psychology?

  A drastic reorientation towards the individual
• How does knowing a person as an individual help in psychology, according to Allport?

  It allows us to predict what that person will do in any situation
• What does the idiographic approach provide in terms of understanding human thought and behavior?

  A more complete understanding
• What are the key features of the idiographic approach in psychology?

  • Focus on the individual
  • Emphasis on personal experiences
  • Provides a complete understanding of human behavior
  • Useful for psychological investigations
• Why is the idiographic approach considered useful for psychological investigations?

  It provides a more complete and useful approach
• What is a strength of the idiographic approach in understanding human behavior?

  It can adopt a scientific approach
• How do idiographic approaches like case studies or qualitative research contribute to scientific understanding?

  They use an evidence-based approach and seek to be objective
• What is reflexivity in qualitative research?

  It is when the researcher reflects critically on biases during the research process
• Why is reflexivity important in idiographic approaches?

  It helps identify the influence of biases on behavior
• What do idiographic approaches embrace that increases their validity?

  Many of the aims of the scientific approach
• What is the criticism that positive psychologists have regarding the idiographic approach?

  They believe it is not scientific, lacks objectivity, and is not sufficiently evidence-based
• What does positive psychology aim to be more of compared to the idiographic approach?

  More evidence-based
• What are the key characteristics of idiographic approaches?

  • Use of case studies and qualitative research
  • Evidence-based approach
  • Seek objectivity
  • Employ reflexivity to address biases
• What are the main criticisms of the idiographic approach from positive psychologists?

  • Not scientific
  • Lacks objectivity
  • Insufficiently evidence-based
• What is a limitation of the idiographic approach in psychology?

  Its inability to produce useful general predictions about behavior is limiting.
• Why is the idiographic approach impractical for producing drugs to treat mental illness?

  It would be too time-consuming to create personal therapies for unique individuals.
• Why are nomothetic approaches considered more useful than idiographic approaches in developing psychological treatments?

  Because they allow for general predictions about therapeutic solutions.
• What approach is necessary in the real world when producing therapies for mental illness?

  A nomothetic approach is necessary.
• What did Allport argue about the idiographic approach?

  He argued that it enables predictions through detailed observations of individuals.
• How can detailed observations of a few individuals in the idiographic approach be used?

  They can be used to make generalizations and formulate theories.
• What stance does making generalizations from detailed observations represent?

  It represents a nomothetic stance rather than an idiographic one.
• Who suggested that research should start with a nomothetic approach?

  Millon and David
• What is the main issue discussed in the debate regarding psychological investigations?

  The idiographic and nomothetic approaches should be used together
• What should researchers do after establishing general laws according to Millon and David?

  Use a more idiographic approach
• Why is it important to use both idiographic and nomothetic approaches together?

  It allows for reliability from nomothetic approaches and detailed findings from idiographic approaches
• What are the benefits of combining idiographic and nomothetic approaches in research?

  • Provides reliability from nomothetic approaches
  • Offers detailed findings from idiographic approaches
  • Creates a more practical approach for research
• How can the combined approaches be applied in treatments?

  They can be used for treatments such as drug therapy