Individual Differences
Evolution --- Genetic Variation and selection
Eugenics --- Selective breeding humans. Scientifically flawed and socially divisive.
Differences and Commonalities --- We can focus on peoples unique qualities they share with others
(nomothetic) and the ones they don’t share (ideographic). They are likely to use case studies and
qualitative methods.
Applications
Developing psychometric tests such as the eyes test to help diagnose ASD.
Strengths and Weaknesses
+Results are highly useful as it is more holistic as it considers both normal and abnormal behaviours
in research (Baron Cohen having three groups (ASD, Normal, Tourette’s))
-Less generalisable because it take more of an idiographic approach (Freud ideographic case study)
Studies
Baron Cohen – Autism – Normal males performed significantly better than ASD males on the eyes
test.
Freud – Oedipus Complex – Hans fear of horses was representative of his unconscious fear of his
father and the castration anxiety caused by the Oedipus complex.
Gould – Measuring Intelligence – There was significant correlation between average test scores and
the length of residence in the US. Suggesting the mental tests didn’t test innate intelligence but
familiarity with American culture.
Hancock – Measuring Psychopathy – Psychopaths used more subordinating conjunctions suggesting
they were describing more cause and effect relationships between events.
Evolution --- Genetic Variation and selection
Eugenics --- Selective breeding humans. Scientifically flawed and socially divisive.
Differences and Commonalities --- We can focus on peoples unique qualities they share with others
(nomothetic) and the ones they don’t share (ideographic). They are likely to use case studies and
qualitative methods.
Applications
Developing psychometric tests such as the eyes test to help diagnose ASD.
Strengths and Weaknesses
+Results are highly useful as it is more holistic as it considers both normal and abnormal behaviours
in research (Baron Cohen having three groups (ASD, Normal, Tourette’s))
-Less generalisable because it take more of an idiographic approach (Freud ideographic case study)
Studies
Baron Cohen – Autism – Normal males performed significantly better than ASD males on the eyes
test.
Freud – Oedipus Complex – Hans fear of horses was representative of his unconscious fear of his
father and the castration anxiety caused by the Oedipus complex.
Gould – Measuring Intelligence – There was significant correlation between average test scores and
the length of residence in the US. Suggesting the mental tests didn’t test innate intelligence but
familiarity with American culture.
Hancock – Measuring Psychopathy – Psychopaths used more subordinating conjunctions suggesting
they were describing more cause and effect relationships between events.
