Idiographic vs nomothetic

Define idiographic

• from the Greek word ‘idios’ meaning own

• Psychologists who take this approach focus on the individual and emphasise the unique experience of human behaviour

• They will study individuals using qualitative data

Define nomothetic

• from the Greek work ‘nomos’ meaning law

• Psychologists are concerned with establishing general laws about behaviour from the study of groups of people

• Using quantitative statistical techni

What does the idiographic approach suggest?

• focuses on the individual and emphasises the unique person experience

• Use qualitative data e.g. case studies

• Does not aim to formulate laws or generalise results

What do case studies do to support the idiographic approach?

• provide an in-depth insight into an individual or small group

• Can be used to evaluate a theory

• Can be found to undermine whole theories and inspire future inquiry

• Clive Wearing

• Feud

What does the nomothetic approach suggest?

• establishes general laws based on a study of large groups of participants

• Uses statistical analysis through quantitative data

Why do biological psychologists use the nomothetic approach?

• adopt scientific methods to identify trends and generate casual laws

• Help when explaining psychological disorders e.g. OCD

• Found in classification systems e.g. DSM or ICD

Why do behaviourists use the nomothetic approach?

Maslow, Pavlov and Skinner:

• research on animals to draw general laws

• Generated these laws onto humans then further onto treatments

• E.g. behavioural treatments for phobias (systematic desensitisation and flooding)

Why do social psychologists use the nomothetic approach?

Arch and Milgram:

• use to understand conformity and obedience

• Researched the role of situational factors in social behaviour

• concluded that these factors influence levels of conformity and obedience in all individuals

Evaluation of the nomothetic vs idiographic approach

• psychology as a science

• Nomothetic approaches are useful

• Both should be used in combination - Eysencks theory