Debates

idiographic vs nomothetic

Idiographic -

Individual, qualitative, subjective, case studies

+ more in depth understanding of people

- not scientific (so can't generalise)

Nomothetic -

Groups, quantitative, objective, generalisations

3 Laws for nomothetic -

+ scientific therefore generalisable

- loses sight of whole person

1 of 3

Nature -

Genes pre-determine behaviour

BRUCE/BRENDA STUDY

Nurture -

Post-natal influences, influenced through the environment

BANDURA STUDY

Blakemore and Cooper - cats in vertical world study, showed that environment is important in development, however there are ethical issues

2 of 3

HARD DETERMINISM - all behaviour is out of the persons control

SOFT DETERMINISM - there are causes of behaviour but mostly free will

3 of 3