Idiographic v nomothetic

• what is meant by the therm idiographic

  understanding behaviour through studying individuals:

  people are studied as unique entities, each with their own subjective experiences and values
• are idiographic studies then used for larger groups

  no:

  there are no attempts to compare individuals to a larger group
• what research methods are used for idiographic studies

  Qualitativ; including case studies
• give some examples of idiographic studies

  + Phineas Gage - memory/localisation

  + Genie - attachment

  + Czech twins - attachment

  + Little Albert - classical conditioning

  + Little Hans - Oedipus complex

  + Genain quadruplets - Sz

  + David Reimer - gender

  + Dora - psychodynamic

  + H.M/E.B/J.W - biopsychology
• give an argument for idiographic methods


  + provides a more complete and in depth account of behaviour by studying individuals: a single case may generate hypothesis for further study
• why is this a strength

  this is important because findings may reveal important insight about normal functioning, which contributes to our overall understanding - so idiographic methods have major contributions to understanding behaviour
• give an argument against idiographic methods

  - viewed as narrow and restrictive:

  many of Freud's key concepts (complexes) were evidenced by a single case study
• why is this an issue

  the methods or ideas may struggle to generalise beyond the individuals studied, they lack scientific vigour by relying on subjective interpretations

  this lowers the internal and external validity, so results may provide little scientific support for theories
• what is meant by the therm nomothetic

  understanding behaviour through studying groups, looking for similarities between the group to produce general laws of behaviour
• are nomothetic studies then used for larger groups


  they provide a benchmark against which people can be compared, classified or measured - this provides a basis for future predicitions
• what research methods are used in nomothetic studies

  Scientific methods: experiments
• give some examples of nomothetic studies

  + Milgram - social influences: obedience

  + Asch - social influences: conformity

  + Zimbardo - social influences: authority

  + Loftus and Palmer - memory: LQ on EWT

  + Ainsworth's strange situation - attachment

  + Sperry's split brain patients - biopsychology

  + Maguire taxi drivers - biopsychology

  + Pavlov's dogs - CC

  + Skinner's rats - OC

  + Harlow's monkeys - attachment
• what is a strength of nomothetic methods

  + the nomothetic approach is more scientific:

  they utilise standardised conditions: no EV, statistical analysis, hypothesise, controls, group averages...
• why is this a strength of nomothetic methods

  increases validity:

  more scientific credibility, can lead to significant contributions to treating/preventing behaviours
• what is a weakness of nomoethic methods

  - reductionist, loses the whole person:

  it may undervalue the impact of individual experiences and aspects/differences between people, therefore overlooking the richness of the human experience
• how is this an issue

  when understanding behaviour it seems crucial to look at individuals, behaviour may be too complex to establish general laws - should be viewed as unique/individual