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The term theory is used with surprising frequency in everyday language. It is often used in to mean a guess, hunch or supposition. You may even hear people dismiss certain information because it is "only a theory." It is important to note as you study psychology and other scientific topics, that a theory in science is not the same as the colloquial use of the term.

A theory is a based upon a hypothesis and backed by evidence. A theory presents a concept or idea that is testable. In science, a theory is not merely a guess. A theory is a fact-based framework for describing a phenomenon. In psychology, theories are used to provide a model for understanding human thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

A psychological theory has two key components: (1) it must describe a behavior and (2) make predictions about future behaviors.

Theory Examples

Throughout psychology's history, a number of different theories have been proposed to explain and predict various aspects of human behavior. Some of these theories have stood the test of time and remain well-accepted today. Others have not held up under close scientific scrutiny, and may have been rejected altogether or only partially accepted by researchers today.

If you are looking for an example of a psychological theory, consider the following:

• Classical Conditioning


• Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development


• Freud's Theory of Psychosexual Development

Each theory has helped contribute to our knowledge base of the human mind and behavior.

http://psychology.about.com/od/tindex/f/theory.htm

   The word “theory” means a number of different things, depending on the context. In the maths and sciences, for example, it is a tested and testable concept that is used to explain an occurrence. For students of the arts, the term refers to the non-practical aspect of their work, while laypeople refer to unproven ideas and speculation as theories. The multitude of meanings for this word can get confusing, but the intent is usually clear from the context; a mathematical paper talking about a theory, for example, is probably referring to it in the scientific sense.

In English, the word dates back to 1592, when it was used to mean a concept or scheme. By the 1630s, scientists had co-opted the term, using it to describe an explanation or thought that was based on observation and testing. “To theorize” also emerged at around the same time.

In the sciences, theories are created after observation and testing. They are designed to rationally and clearly explain a phenomenon. For example, Isaac Newton came up with a theory about gravity in the 17th century, and it proved to be both testable and correct. Scientific theories are not quite the same thing as facts, but they are often very similar; scientists usually test their theories extensively before airing them, looking for obvious problems which could cause them to be challenged.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-theory.htm