Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches

• Idiographic Approach

  Attempts to describe the nature of the individual. People are studied as unique entities, each with their own subjective experiences, motivations and values. There is no attempt to make comparisons to a larger group, standard, or norm.
• Idiographic Approach- Data

  Generally associated with methods which produce qualitative data; such as case studies, unstructured interviews, and other self-report methods. Reflecting the central aims of research: to describe the richness of human experience, and gain insight into an individual's unique way of viewing the world.
• Nomothetic Approach

  The main aim is to produce general laws of human behaviour. These provide a standard against which people can be compared, classified and measured. On this basis, likely behaviour can be predicted and controlled.
• Nomothetic Approach- Data

  Closely aligned with methods which are regarded as 'scientific' (like lab experiments) and often gain quantitative data (such as questionnaires). These involve the study of large numbers to establish the ways in which people are similar, and inform us of the ways in which people differ.
• Examples of the Idiographic Approach

  Humanistic Psychology: Rogers and Maslow take a phenomenological approach to the study of human beings, and were interested in documenting the conscious experience of the individual or 'self'. Through describing themselves as 'anti-scientific', they are more concerned with investigating unique experiences- linking to their 'client-centred' therapy.
• Examples of the Idiographic Approach

  The Psychodynamic Approach: Freud's use of case studies to build upon his theories makes his approach idiographic. For example, his analysis of Little Hans was used to provide evidence for the Oedipus Complex (the feelings of admiration towards the mother, but hatred for their rival of love, the father). Though he then made the generalisation that due to fear of castration, boys repress their feelings for their mother and identify with their father, taking his gender role and moral values.
• Examples of the Nomothetic Approach

  Much of Behaviourist, cognitive and biological research meet the nomothetic criteria as they are often seen as reductionist, determinist and employ scientific methods of investigation. E.g. Skinner studied hundreds of rats/cats/pigeons to develop laws of learning. Cognitive psychologists infer structure and processes of human memory by measuring the performance of large samples. Biological approach conducts brain scans on large samples to make generalisations about localisation of brain function. Hypothesis are rigorously tested and statistically analysed.
• AO3: A case for the Idiographic Approach

  The in-depth qualitative methods of investigation provides a complete and global account of the individual. This may complement the nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws, or challenging such laws. E.g. a single case can generate hypotheses for further study, like the case study of HM- providing important insights about the ways brain functioning can alter contributes to our overall understanding.
• AO3: A case against the Idiographic Approach

  It should still be recognised that the scope of work is narrow and restricted. One of the criticisms of Freud's research is that many of his key concepts, like the Oedipus Complex, were largely developed from case studies (e.g. Little Hans). Meaningful generalisations cannot be made without further examples, as there is no adequate baseline to compare the behaviour to. Case studies are seen as the least scientific as conclusions are subjective interpretations, meaning its open to bias.
• AO3: A case for the Nomothetic Approach

  The processes involved tend to be more scientific, mirroring those employed within the natural sciences- testing under standardised conditions, statistical analysis, prediction and control (like the field of IQ testing). Such processes have allowed psychologists to establish norms of 'typical' behaviour (such as an average IQ of 100), arguably giving the discipline of psychology greater scientific credibility.
• AO3: A case against the Nomothetic Approach

  Preoccupation on general laws, predictions and control has been accused of 'losing the whole person' within psychology. Knowing that there is a 1% lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia tells us little about someone who is experiencing the disorder themselves. Similarly, in lab studies, participants are seen as a series of scores rather than individual people, and their subjective experience of the situation is ignored. Meaning seeking generalisations means researchers may overlook the richness of human experience.
• AO3: Complementary rather than Contradictory (1)

  Rather than seeing idiographic and nomothetic approaches as mutually exclusive, it is possible to consider the same topic from both perspectives, depending on the nature of the research question. E.g. Attachment Research- Nomothetic: Schaffer's Stages of Attachment generalised to all/Ainsworth's SS conducted using lab studies. Idiographic Approach: Bowlby's 44 Thieves study based on a series of detailed case studies and interviews.
• AO3: Complementary rather than Contradictory (2)

  A contemporary understanding of the two terms have converged. The goal of modern psychology is to provide rich, detailed descriptions of human behaviour as well as the explanation of such behaviour within a framework of general laws. A more interactionist approach.