Individual differences approach

Thigpen and Cleckley eve white

Rosenhan sane in insane places
Griffiths - gambling

Assumptions

Behaviour which deviates from the norm is considered abnormal.

Aims to make generalisations about differences between people

Focuses on the unique characteristics of the individual (People

are unique)

Strengths of Individual
Differences Approach
Case studies are useful in
therapy
Psychometric testing can
allow comparisons between
individuals
Qualitative research is rich
and detailed
Research has many practical
applications

Weaknesses of Individual
Differences approach
May be subjective

Tests may have problems

of reliability and validity
Case studies are difficult to
generalise

Example
Thigpen and Cleckley thought that Jane would be
the best personality to stay out and control her life.
Thigpen and Cleckley used IQ tests to check for
differences between Eves alters.
Griffiths difference in cognitive thinking between
gamblers and non-gamblers.
All. T&C film, interviews, etc; Rosenhan
observation, diary; Griffiths speaking aloud.
Griffiths help addicted gamblers by showing them
their irrationality with respect to the machine, etc.
Rosenhan questions diagnostic process and how to
treat patients and know when they can be released.
Example
Griffiths when analysing the comments made by
gamblers might be categorising innocent comments
made light-heartedly.
Thigpen & Cleckley Therapists were too involved
with eve black and jane.
T&C IQ may lack validity eve blacks score could
lack reliability.
Rosenhan if repeated unlikely to get the same results
today.
T&C Eve White may not be typical of MPD sufferers.
May not generalise to males, or people of different ages.

Similarities and Differences between studies

Studies
Similarity
Rosenhan and
Both deal with psychiatric
T&C
problems

Difference
Rosenhan used a participant
observation study and T&C a case

Rosenhan and
Griffiths
Griffiths and
T&C

study.
Both conducted in real-life
Rosenhan deals with a psychiatric
environments (Rosenhan
problem and Griffiths deals with
psychiatric hospital, Griffiths something that could become a
amusement arcade)
psychiatric problem.
Both used qualitative data
T&C case study, Griffiths is a
(and quantitative for that
natural experiment and
matter!). Qualitative -T&C
observation.
interviews, Griffiths
T&C deals with a psychiatric
speaking aloud, use of the
problem and Griffiths deals with
machine.
something that could become a
Quantitative data T&C IQ psychiatric problem.
EEG, Griffiths number of
wins, money won, etc.
Natural occurrence of
phenomena studied
Griffiths natural gamblers,
T&C Eve was naturally
MPD.