Problem

In what ways do the data of history differ from the data of science? Give examples of how...

In what ways do the data of history differ from the data of science? Give examples of how historical data can be distorted.

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Solution 1

The evolution of psychology depends upon the method of history known as historiography.There is a profound difference between the data of historians and scientists. A scientist can easily conduct an experiment and come to conclusions.His work can also be repeated at any place and at any time.

On the other hand, with the data of history, the historians cannot go back in time to collect samples or to collect data. They cannot control or reconstruct the past for thorough examination. The data for historians are present in description, fragments, letters, and journals,

Data of history also faces another drawback, that is, distortion. Freud’s own work, which is in German,is translated as many psychologists are not fluent in German. For example the three fundamental theories by Freud about Id, Ego and Super-ego, these Latin translated words do not completely translate the actual meaning of what Freud had said.

The actual German words are Es, Ich and, Uber-Ich whose english meanings are it, I, and above I respectively. Free association, another of Freud’s terminologies implies association. However, its actual meaning is intrusion or an invasion. Thus, the act of translation destroys the originator’s actual interpretations.

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