Contrast theoretical approaches in developmental psychology and the ethical implications.
Recognise and compare research methodologies used in personality.
• Produce a written essay of 2000 words in which you critically evaluate key approaches to the study of personality. Your essay should include an outline and critique of two key theoretical approaches and be supported by research evidence exploring the role of different assessment and research methodologies. Students will also demonstrate their understanding of ethical issues, historical and current.
• This has now been narrowed down to a uniform comparison and contrast of the two (types of) approaches taught in the module
• Trait theory (Nomethetic)
• Psychology of Personal Constructs (Idiographic)
• Identify two distinct approaches to the study of personality (idiographic-nomothetic), in terms of:
• Emphasis (e.g., uniqueness, commonalities)
• Methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative)
• Choose examples of idiographic and nomothetic approaches (e.g., Trait theory, humanistic)
• Compare and identify advantages and disadvantages, evidence critical understanding
• Special emphasis on applications (e.g., therapeutic approaches), and methodologies
• Evidence an awareness of ethical issues involved (esp. in terms of methodologies employed (e.g., assessment and research).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Contrasting Nomothetic and Idiographic Approaches in Personality Psychology: A Critical Evaluation
Personality psychology aims to understand and explain individual differences in behavior, cognition, and emotion. Two key theoretical approaches used in the study of personality are the nomothetic approach, which focuses on identifying general principles that apply to all individuals, and the idiographic approach, which emphasizes understanding the uniqueness of each individual. This essay critically evaluates these two approaches by outlining and critiquing their characteristics, methodologies, advantages, disadvantages, applications, and ethical implications.
Introduction to Personality Theory
Personality theory seeks to explain the consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish individuals from one another. Understanding these patterns is crucial for various practical applications, including therapeutic interventions, career counseling, and organizational development.
Nomothetic Approach: Quantitative Research
The nomothetic approach to understanding and researching personality focuses on identifying general principles that apply to all individuals. This approach aims to uncover universal laws or dimensions that can explain and predict human behavior across different contexts. Quantitative research methods, such as surveys and experiments, are commonly employed to gather data and test hypotheses.
Trait Theory: The Big Five
Trait theory is a popular nomothetic approach that posits that personality can be described in terms of a set of stable and enduring traits. The Big Five model is a prominent example of trait theory, which identifies five fundamental dimensions of personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
The nomothetic nature of trait theory lies in its attempt to identify universal traits that can be measured and compared across individuals. This approach has strengths such as providing a structured framework for understanding personality, facilitating comparisons between individuals, and having practical applications in various domains. However, it also has limitations, including oversimplification of individual differences and a focus on static characteristics rather than dynamic processes.
Idiographic Approach: Qualitative Research
The idiographic approach to understanding and researching personality emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual. This approach seeks to capture the subjective experiences, meanings, and narratives that shape an individual’s personality. Qualitative research methods, such as interviews and case studies, are commonly employed to explore the rich complexities of an individual’s personality.
Psychology of Personal Constructs: Personal Construct Theory
The Psychology of Personal Constructs (PPC) is a prominent idiographic approach that posits that individuals develop personal constructs that shape their perceptions and behaviors. Personal constructs are subjective frameworks through which individuals interpret and understand the world around them. The PPC approach focuses on exploring these personal constructs through qualitative methods to gain deep insights into an individual’s unique personality.
The idiographic nature of the PPC lies in its focus on understanding the unique experiences, meanings, and narratives of individuals. This approach has strengths such as capturing the richness and complexity of individual differences, providing in-depth insights into subjective experiences, and facilitating therapeutic interventions tailored to individuals’ specific needs. However, it also has limitations, including potential subjectivity in interpreting qualitative data and difficulty in generalizing findings to larger populations.
Understanding Personality Development and Research Implications
Both nomothetic and idiographic approaches contribute to our understanding of personality development. Nomothetic approaches provide a broader perspective by identifying general principles and factors that influence personality development across individuals. In contrast, idiographic approaches focus on capturing the unique experiences and processes that shape an individual’s personality development.
These contrasting approaches have implications for research methodologies employed in personality psychology. Nomothetic approaches often utilize quantitative research methods to measure and compare personality traits across large samples. Idiographic approaches rely on qualitative research methods to explore subjective experiences and construct narratives.
Ethical Considerations in Personality Research
Ethical requirements in personality research are paramount due to the potential impact on individuals’ privacy, well-being, and self-perception. Researchers must be mindful of obtaining informed consent from participants, protecting their confidentiality, and ensuring their voluntary participation.
When working with developmentally sensitive populations, such as children participating in personality assessments, additional ethical considerations arise. Researchers must ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable participants and obtain informed consent from parents or legal guardians.
In conclusion, the nomothetic and idiographic approaches provide valuable insights into the study of personality. The nomothetic approach focuses on general principles applicable to all individuals using quantitative research methods like trait theory. In contrast, the idiographic approach emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual using qualitative research methods like the Psychology of Personal Constructs. Both approaches have strengths and limitations that must be considered. Ethical considerations are also crucial when conducting personality research to protect participants’ rights and well-being. By understanding these approaches and their implications, researchers can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of human personality.
