idiographic and nomothetic

• Benefits of using both approaches

  It may be more appropriate to combine idiographic & nomothetic approaches for a more holistic understanding of conditions.
• Benefits of using both approaches to investigate the impact of maternal privation

  • Enables psychologists to build a more informed & in-depth theory about the long-term effects of maternal privation
  • Koluchova's twins demonstrates that maternal deprivation was overcome, challenging Bowlby's theory & conclusion
• Nomothetic approach


  • Using lab experiments such as Harlow's has helped psychology to gain greater scientific status as a discipline
  • If only a nomothetic approach was used, psychologists would have been restricted to conducting lab experiments on animals due to many areas being socially sensitive, which causes external validity issues
• Nomothetic approach


  Gaining general 'laws'
• Idiographic approach


  More in-depth, specific research
• Approach to research


  1. Start with nomothetic approach

  2. Once general 'laws' have been established, research can then move to a more idiographic approach

  3. Thus, getting the best of both worlds