Individual Differences - Psychological

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  • Created by: KesiaKate
  • Created on: 14-05-17 17:14
Whats the definition of Individual Differences?
Individual differences in the study of how individuals are unique. This approach focuses on studying the differences between people rather than those things that we all have in common
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What does it assume?
assumes behaviour can be largely explained in terms of personality traits, intelligence, normality, ways of thinking and emotional responses.
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What is the scientific study of human behaviour?
The scientific study of human behaviour argues that huge variations exists between the individuals and to understand the complexity of human phenomenon we need to focus on the quantitative and qualitative differences between individuals.
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What are the assumptions of Individuals differences
Behaviour can be explained by focusing on the differences between individuals. Researchers should focus on dispositional explanations of human behaviour, where behaviour is caused by you as an individual, rather than the situation you are in.
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Does it support Nature or Nurture?
The area of individual differences looks at how individuals are unique and the differences between people rather than what they have in common, therefore it could be argued to support the nature side of the debate
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Does it support Individual or Situational?
The area of individual differences supports the individual side of the debate.
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Does it support Reductionism or Holism?
The area of individual differences is reductionistic because it assumes that behaviour and experiences can be explained by looking at the individual only, therefore discounting the role of the situation.
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Does it support Determinism or Free-Will?
The area of Individual differences is deterministic because it assumes that behaviour is pre-determined by dispositional traits, therefore we have no control over our actions
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Does it provide Useful research?
Baron Cohen’s study informed us of the difficulties faced by autistic individuals in social interactions and therefore training can be put in place (such as SPELL training) to help these individuals have their needs met in schools and by parents.
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Does it breach Ethical guidelines?
Therefore these individuals are at risk of being labelled different which may create a self - fulfilling prophecy - where individuals begin to act in accordance with their labels.
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Does it involved Socially Sensitive Research?
Yes, Freud could be considered to be socially sensitive as it deals with private information and analysis of psychosexual behaviour, which may be considered a ‘taboo’.
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What are the strengths of Individual Differences? (psychometric tests)
Has developed several psychometric tests to measure differences between individuals in terms of the qualities (e.g personality and intelligence)
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What are the strengths of Individual Differences? (ecological validity)
Research is often high in ecological validity as they often take place in real life environments
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What are the strengths of Individual Differences? (practical applications)
Provides many useful piratical applications to understand people with mental health problems, and therefore treat their abnormalities.
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What are the strengths of Individual Differences? (Qualitative)
Often collected qualitative data from the case study method so rich, detailed insight can be obtained
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What were the weaknesses of Individual Differences? (idiographic approach)
Adopts an idiographic approach and therefore research lacks generalisability
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What were the weaknesses of Individual Differences? (reductionistic)
Takes a reductionistic approach and ignores situational explanations of human behaviour
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What were the weaknesses of Individual Differences? (ethical)
Raises ethical issues of labelling people as different or abnormal
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What were the weaknesses of Individual Differences? (subjective)
Does not support psychology as a science as research is based on qualitative data gained via subjective methods so explanations may lack validity
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What does it assume?

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assumes behaviour can be largely explained in terms of personality traits, intelligence, normality, ways of thinking and emotional responses.

Card 3

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What is the scientific study of human behaviour?

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Card 4

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What are the assumptions of Individuals differences

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Card 5

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Does it support Nature or Nurture?

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