Definition

An idionomic approach combines individual-level (idiographic) and group-level (nomothetic) analyses. The individual is modeled first, and group-level generalizations are only made if they are consistent with individual patterns of behavior.

Idionomic Analysis Workflow

Source: Hayes, S. C., Hernández, C., Ciarrochi, J., Hofmann, S. G., Ong, C., Sahdra, B. K. (in press, accepted on July 9, 2025). Idionomic analysis in translational research in behavior analysis: Creating a two-way relationship between basic and applied behavioral science. In G. J. Madden & F. D. Digennaro Reed (Eds). APA handbooks in psychology: APA Handbook of behavior analysis, 2nd Edition, Volume 2: Translational research, applied principles and values, and child applications. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

R package

https://github.com/cristobalehc/idionomics

Citation:

Hernández, C., Ciarrochi, J., Hayes, S., & Sahdra, B. K. (2025). idionomics (R package). GitHub. https://github.com/cristobalehc/idionomics

The idionomics package simplifies the implementation of idionomic methods. Just a couple of lines of code, and you're ready to go.

Empirical Publications

Sahdra, B. K., Shin, A., Fraser, M., Levin, M. E., Klimczak, K. S., Krafft, J., Hayes, S. C., Hernández, C., & Ciarrochi, J. (2025). One size does not make all happy: Idionomic links between striving for positive states and happiness in experience sampling. Journal of Happiness Studies, 26:101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-025-00933-0
Catts, N. V., Sahdra, B. K., Ciarrochi, J., Fraser, M. I., Hernández, C., Hayes, S. C., & Gloster, A. T. (2025). Distinct Pathways to Well-Being: Exploring Valued Action and Mood Among Stoics and Non-Stoics. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 100898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100898
Woolley, M. G., Sahdra, B.K., Bowers, E.M., Capel, L.K., Twohig, M. P., & Levin, M.E. (2025). An indionomic network analysis of trichotillomania treatment targets: Gathering group-level and individual-level insights to inform a personalized therapeutic framework. Behavior Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2025.01.006
Sahdra, B. K., Ciarrochi, J., Klimczak, K., Krafft, J., Hayes, S. C., & Levin, M. (2024). Testing the Applicability of Idionomic Statistics in Longitudinal Studies: The Example of ‘Doing What Matters.’ Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100728
Ciarrochi, J., Sahdra, B. K., Fraser, M., Hayes, S, Yap, K, Gloster, A. (2024). The Compassion Connection: Experience Sampling Insights into Romantic Attraction. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100749
Ciarrochi, J., Sahdra, B., Hayes, S.C., Hofmann, S.G., Sanford, B., Stanton, C., Yap, K., Fraser, M.I., Gates, K., Gloster, A.T. (2024). A personalised approach to identifying important determinants of well-being. Cognitive Therapy and Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-024-10486-w
Hernández, C., Ferrada, M., Ciarrochi, J., Quevedo, S., Garcés, J. A., Hansen, R., & Sahdra, B. K. (2024). The cycle of solitude and avoidance: a daily life evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction and symptoms of social anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1337834