What are the major differences between nomothetic and idiographic theories of personality?
Overall, the idiographic approach focuses on subjective and unique experiences of individuals. In contrast, the nomothetic approach focuses on numerical data and universal explanations of behaviour.
Is the social learning theory idiographic or nomothetic?
Social learning theories such as operant learning theory, Bandura’s social learning theory or Erikson’s eight stages of personality development theory fit into idiographic approach. Bandura argued that people learn through observing the attitudes, actions and behaviours of others.
Why do sociologists primarily use nomothetic theorizing?
The nomothetic approach involves trying to make generalizations about the world and understand large-scale social patterns. Sociologists can combine both idiographic and nomothetic approaches to develop a more comprehensive understanding of society.
Is SLT deterministic?
Although the approach appears less mechanistic than behaviourism, social learning theorists generally do not believe in free will, and take a deterministic view of human behaviour.
Is social learning theory reductionist or holistic?
The behaviorist approach and social learning are reductionist; they isolate parts of complex behaviors to study.
Why do sociologists use nomothetic?
What approaches are nomothetic?
The term “nomothetic” comes from the Greek word “nomos” meaning “law”. Psychologists who adopt this approach are mainly concerned with studying what we share with others (i.e. similarities between people). Therefore, the nomothetic approach involves establishing laws or generalizations that apply to all people.
Is psychodynamic approach nomothetic?
The psychodynamic approach is often labelled ‘idiographic’ because of Sigmund Freud’s use of the case study method when detailing the lives of his patients. However, Freud also assumed he had identified universal laws of behaviour and personality development (which is more akin to a nomothetic approach).
How are idiographic approaches and nomothetic approaches related?
It is more helpful to see them as complementary. The insights from an idiographic approach can shed more light on the general principles developed using the nomothetic approach. For example, Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation suggests that extreme maternal deprivation is irreversible.
Where does the nomothetic idiographic debate come from?
Nomothetic Idiographic Debate. The term “ nomothetic ” comes from the Greek word “nomos” meaning “law”. Psychologists who adopt this approach are mainly concerned with studying what we share with others. That is to say in establishing laws or generalizations. The term “ idiographic ” comes from the Greek word “idios” meaning “own” or “private”.
Where does the nomothetic approach in psychology come from?
The Nomothetic Approach The term “nomothetic” comes from the Greek word “nomos” meaning “law”. Psychologists who adopt this approach are mainly concerned with studying what we share with others (i.e. similarities between people). Therefore, the nomothetic approach involves establishing laws or generalizations that apply to all people.
Who was the first psychologist to use the idiographic approach?
Allport (1961) is another who used the idiographic approach and even came up with the term. He believed that the idiographic approach can tell us more about human behaviour and that personality tests that provide quantitative data are not as insightful.