Contents
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What is Individual Differences Psychology?
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Assumptions
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Methods of Investigation
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Core Studies from Individual Differences Psychology: Thigpen and Cleckley (1954) and Gould: A
Nation of Morons. (1982)
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Contributions to Psychology
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Advantages and Disadvantages
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Summary
Individual Differences
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An approach to psychology that focuses on how people differ from one another.
Assumptions
1) People are unique!
Methods of Investigations
A whole range of methods. As well as conducting experiments Individual Differences
Psychologists use the following methods:
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Case Study
This method involves an in-depth and detailed look at an individual or particular group. It is often
used when looking at exceptional cases
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Participant Observation
This method involves the researchers joining a particular social group and making often secret
observations over a long period of time.
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Review Study
Looking at previous work and drawing conclusions.
Thigpen and Cleckley (1954) A Case of Multiple Personality
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Aim: To document a case of Multiple Personality Disorder
Design: Case Study
Participant: A 25 year old woman with Multiple Personality Disorder.
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Procedure: Information was collected from Eve White. This information included: interview
material, psychometric tests and physiological tests. During therapy Eve White’s two other alters
(personalities) came out. The Researchers conducted a range of tests on the alters and researchers
documented her treatment.
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Results: Researchers identified three separate alters. Each alter had separate personalities as shown
by observations and a range of tests e.g. IQ test scores. The researchers named the alters Eve White,
Eve Black and Jane. Eve White was demure, neat, polite and very anxious. Eve Black was the
opposite, she was mischievous and had little concern for her husband. Jane was more mature and
interesting. She eventually took over from Eve White, but she couldn’t get rid of Eve Black.
Gould (1982) A Nation of Morons
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Aim: To review Yerkes’ work on IQ testing.
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Design: A Review Study
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Procedure: Gould reviewed Yerkes’ work. Yerkes conducted a mass IQ testing programme on the
American army during the first world war. He claimed that his tests measured native intellectual
ability, in other words, intelligence that was unaffected by culture or education. After conducting his
tests Yerkes concluded that people from Southern European countries and Africa were less intelligent
than people from North America and Northern Europe.
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Results: Gould reviewed Yerkes tests and claimed that the tests were invalid. Instead of measuring
innate intelligence the tests were measuring cultural knowledge and were dependent on fluency of
English. This explains why recent immigrants to America did not do very well in the tests. He also
identified problems with the way in which the tests had been administered.
Contributions to Psychology
This area of Psychology has led to a greater understanding of the way we differ from each other. This
has been useful in the following areas:
1) The understanding and treatment of usual mental illnesses
2) A greater understanding of different cultural groups.
3) This area has challenged previously ethnocentrically biased research.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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Practical Applications. Particularly in the
treatment of the mentally ill.
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Unlike the rest of Psychology is focuses on
how we are different from each other rather
than generalising findings to everybody.
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It is often lacking in scientific rigour.
Research methodology can lead to subjective
findings.
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It lacks generalisability. The findings can
only be applied to a small group of people.
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Research is often time consuming and
expensive.
Summary
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Individual Differences Psychology looks at the differences between people.
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It using case study, participant observation and review studies.
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It has helped further the treatment and understanding of mental illness
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It has wide applications, but it has been accused of lacking in generalisability.