<p>^^^I’m going to get thrashed for saying this, but that sounds like someone simply lacking intelligence/“general” aptitude. </p>
<p>If you can’t handle conceptual material like Physics but you can soak concrete knowledge like History and reapply it in a thesis, then you are a good studier and can memorize information quickly. </p>
<p>This sounds like the definition of commitment as opposed to aptitude. Obviously, if you don’t go to history lectures then you can’t effectively commit to the class. Therefore, you don’t do well.</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh, and yes, this implies that I consider those who can’t “master” history to simply be lazy/lack commitment. </p>
<p>Bring it.</p>