Idiographic vs Nomothetic

• Idiographic - Humanistic and Psychodynamic

  • qualitative methods
  • focus on individual case to gain unique insight for each person
  • e.g. Little Hans, Maslows hierarchy to reach SA
• Nomothetic - Bio, Behavioural, Cognitive

  • study of large numbers to make generalisations or develop theories
  • formulate general laws
  • summarise differences
  • quantitative methods
  • e.g. fight or flight response, computer model cognitive approach
• AO3

  • idiographic gives rich data - complete and global account of an individual to give findings about functioning
  • idiographic lacks scientific credibility - based on subjective methods, case studies
  • nomothetic is scientific - uses standardised procedures and objectivity
  • interactionist - important to understand general laws about mental health, but symptoms may differ between patients