Individual differences
Commonly looks to measure and rank people and categorise them by the small differences
that distinguish one person from another.
Key concepts:
Evolution- the theory of evolution has transformed the way we look at ourselves.
The genetic features that make some individuals survive and reproduce are likely to
be passed onto the next generation.
Eugenics- refers to the attempt to improve the quality of human beings through
selective breeding. If we wanted to improve intelligence we would encourage
intelligent people to have lots of children and unintelligent people to have none.
There are problems with this as an approach to intelligence as intelligence cannot be
improved and it can be reliably and validly tested. The attempt to breed a superior
class of human beings is scientifically flawed and socially divisive.
Differences and commonalties- if we focus on uniqueness, we are more likely to use
qualitative measures like case studies. However we cannot make generalisations and
comparisons. If we focus on commonalties we are more likely to use a quantitative
approach to make generalisations but we lose individual special qualities
Similarities:
Social- both have practical applications to help people making them useful (Baron-
Cohen, Milgram)
Cognitive- both have practical applications to help people making them useful
(Baron-Cohen, Loftus and Palmer)
Biological- both acknowledge the role of individual factors in behaviour (Baron-
Cohen, Casey)
Differences:
I.D focuses on individual factors (Baron-Cohen) but social area focuses on situational
factors (Milgram)
Cognitive has been shown that thoughts can be changed by the situation (Grant) but
I.D area would suggest that thoughts are based on individual factors like disorders
(Baron-Cohen)
Developmental area is more likely to use longitudinal study but I.D is more likely to
use snapshot research
Biological area very scientific (Sperry) but I.D isn’t always scientific (Gould)
Strengths:
Use of samples that are ‘abnormal’ increases our understanding of ‘normal’
behaviour as well as ‘abnormal’ behaviour thus results are useful. Freud shows us
how normal boys come to identity with their fathers.
The focus on what makes people different provides special insights rather than
seeking to make generalisations. Baron-cohen- highlighted characteristics that may
explain social differences in autism in adults.
Weaknesses:
Commonly looks to measure and rank people and categorise them by the small differences
that distinguish one person from another.
Key concepts:
Evolution- the theory of evolution has transformed the way we look at ourselves.
The genetic features that make some individuals survive and reproduce are likely to
be passed onto the next generation.
Eugenics- refers to the attempt to improve the quality of human beings through
selective breeding. If we wanted to improve intelligence we would encourage
intelligent people to have lots of children and unintelligent people to have none.
There are problems with this as an approach to intelligence as intelligence cannot be
improved and it can be reliably and validly tested. The attempt to breed a superior
class of human beings is scientifically flawed and socially divisive.
Differences and commonalties- if we focus on uniqueness, we are more likely to use
qualitative measures like case studies. However we cannot make generalisations and
comparisons. If we focus on commonalties we are more likely to use a quantitative
approach to make generalisations but we lose individual special qualities
Similarities:
Social- both have practical applications to help people making them useful (Baron-
Cohen, Milgram)
Cognitive- both have practical applications to help people making them useful
(Baron-Cohen, Loftus and Palmer)
Biological- both acknowledge the role of individual factors in behaviour (Baron-
Cohen, Casey)
Differences:
I.D focuses on individual factors (Baron-Cohen) but social area focuses on situational
factors (Milgram)
Cognitive has been shown that thoughts can be changed by the situation (Grant) but
I.D area would suggest that thoughts are based on individual factors like disorders
(Baron-Cohen)
Developmental area is more likely to use longitudinal study but I.D is more likely to
use snapshot research
Biological area very scientific (Sperry) but I.D isn’t always scientific (Gould)
Strengths:
Use of samples that are ‘abnormal’ increases our understanding of ‘normal’
behaviour as well as ‘abnormal’ behaviour thus results are useful. Freud shows us
how normal boys come to identity with their fathers.
The focus on what makes people different provides special insights rather than
seeking to make generalisations. Baron-cohen- highlighted characteristics that may
explain social differences in autism in adults.
Weaknesses:
