Idiothetic

Idiothetic literally means "self-proposition" (Greek derivation), and is used in navigation models (e.g., of a rat in a maze) to describe the use of self-motion cues,¹ rather than allothetic, or external, cues such as landmarks, to determine position and movement.² The word is sometimes also spelled "ideothetic" (e.g., Chen et al, 1994 ³). Idiothetic cues include vestibular, optic flow and proprioception. Idiothetic cues are important for the type of navigation known as path integration⁴⁵ in which subjects navigate purely using such self-motion cues. This is achieved by an animal through the signals generated by angular and linear accelerations in the course of its exploration.⁶ This information generates and updates a vector towards the starting point and an accurate path for return.⁶ The spider Cupiennius salei has been known to possess this idiothetic orientation, demonstrating its higher cognitive abilities.⁷

The term idiothetic is also used in robotics⁸ and in personality psychology. Idiothetic psychology of personality suggests that personality description follows idiographic principles, while personality development centres around nomothetic principles.⁹ Idiothetic-based psychological theories include James Lamiell's Critical Personalism model, George Kelly's Role Repertory Test,¹⁰ and the narrative approaches that focus on the impact of life stories.