Idiographic versus nomothetic approaches to psychology.
The American psychologist, Gordon Allport (1937) looked at these two major ways to study personality, the nomothetic and the idiographic. Nomothetic psychology looks for general laws that can be applied to many different people, such as the factor of sensing, or the trait of openness.
The nomothetic approach is the main approach within scientifically oriented psychology. For example: Biological Psychologists take a nomothetic approach when explaining psychological disorders, such as OCD and depression. They typically pinpoint biological factors, such as neurotransmitters, that are responsible for such disorders and use biological therapies (e.g. drugs) to treat all patients.
The nomothetic approach is also dominant in Type theories such as the Jung personality type theory. The theory was founded by Jung in his book psychological types, which was published in 1921. Isabel Myers and her mother Katharine C. Briggs developed a personality type test by constructing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) based on Jung's theory.
The case study method, which provide a complete and global understanding of the individual is favoured. Other methods include unstructured interviews as well as the less mainstream methods such as self report, introspection and reflection and the use of autobiographies and.
Idiographic vs. Nomothetic Does the theory focus on individuals and emphasise uniqueness? Or does the theory favour qualitative methods in research? (Idiographic approach) Does the theory seek for formulate general laws of behaviour? Or does the theory favour quantitative statistical techniques? (Nomothetic approach) Determinism vs Free Will Is.
Idiographic vs. nomothetic. Starter. Complete the hand out on the nature vs. nurture debate. Idiographic (private or own) Psychologists who take an idiographic approach focus on the individual and emphasise the unique personal experience of human nature. What do you think are the methods of investigation used? Case studies. Unstructured interviews. Thematic. analysis. These methods provide.
The idiographic and nomothetic approaches in psychology are often regarded as representing opposing and conflicting positions about how best to study people, especially intelligence and personality Idiographic and nomothetic psychology essay. However, the two may be seen as complementary, with both necessary to gain a fuller understanding of human beings.