Discussion 14,
4 replies.
What can we learn from history so we do not repeat it.  It seems in several places around the globe, the same rhetoric of what is right or who is included or excluded, accepted or departed, honored or exterminated, person or earth, was articulated at various times in history.  What happened?  Have we forgotten Elie Wiesels warning to never forget?  What are your comments about how our advice to learn from history so we may never repeat it, has failed, and what should a psychologist do from here?

Claras respond

It seems that to address this issue may require that psychologists examine their practice of psychology in relation to the debate over human science versus natural science. Especially where resolutions have not yet been found and subsequent harm has been done. For example, regarding systems of inquiry provided by Polkinghorne (1983), the issue becomes something possibly best addressed from a methodological standpoint where psychologists may face less than welcome fates regarding their use of problematic methodologies, to include their theoretical analyses.
One issue that seems important provided by Larsson (2017) is with regard to measurement of the mind to include psychological measurement, which would have included, historically, cranial measurement. Where psychological measurement, seems an area where we may have failed, to learn from history, such as in view of neuroscientific data utilized to draw conclusions regarding psychological well-being.
From our discussion on systems approaches, for example, it does seem important to wonder the extent to which these theoretical approaches such as General Systems Theory, can provide psychologists with the best sources upon which therapeutic care is then provided. For Larsson (2017) the origins of psychological measurement can include in the areas of psychometrics and psychological testing which involved quantifying mental life, and experimentation.
It can be that neuropsychological evaluations involve measuring physiological process which draw from standardized measurements from the past, however, for example, with the exception of cranial measurement, which has been abandoned in relation to phrenology and physiognomonic theories (Larsson, 2017). For Polkinghorne (1983) the deductive system of inquiry, for example, involved in experimentation and hypothesis testing can be seen to isolate observations that provide support for confirmed truths. This kind of reasoning is seen to have significant pitfalls regarding its ability to fully explain or represent what is considered accurate.
References
Larsson, P. (2017). Psychological healing: Historical and philosophical foundations of professional psychology. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.
Polkinghorne, D. (1983). Methodology for the human sciences: Systems of inquiry. Albany: State University of New York Press.