Developmental Psychology: Nomothetic vs Idiographic and Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on nomothetic vs. idiographic approaches, determinism, causation concepts, Freud's theory, and related names.

Nomothetic science

An approach that seeks universal laws or generalizations in development, focusing on what people share and applying laws to most children.

Idiographic science

An approach that studies unique individuals and the specific processes influencing them, with limited generalizability.

Freud's theory (psychoanalytic theory)

Early conflicts and unresolved issues in personality development may lead to fixation and continued pleasure-seeking energies.

Early determinism

The belief that childhood experiences largely shape adult outcomes.

Environmental determinism

The view that early life experiences determine later outcomes and that early years are a key window shaping personality.

Equifinality

In an open system, different pathways may lead to the same developmental outcome.

Sufficient cause

An experience or attribute that, if present, guarantees a specific developmental outcome.

Necessary cause

An experience or attribute that must occur for a specified developmental outcome to result.

Modus ponens inference

A logical pattern 'If A, then B' that can be misleading when understanding is incomplete and cannot establish necessary/sufficient causation.

Open system

A dynamic context in which multiple pathways can converge on the same developmental outcome (related to equifinality).

Nomos

The Greek word meaning 'law'; the root of the term nomothetic.

Mitchell Scott Johnson

Born in Meadow, Minnesota.

Andrew Golden

Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas.