Purpose of a Psychology Theory In psychology, theories are used to provide a model for understanding human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. A psychological theory has two key components: It must describe a behavior. It must make predictions about future behaviors.Click to see full answer. Also, what is a theory in psychology?In science, including psychology, a theory is a principle or idea that explains or solves a problem. Theories typically address a collection of issues.One may also ask, what are the functions of psychology? There are four basic psychological functions – Sensing, iNtuition, Thinking, and Feeling. They are used to perceive facts or possibilities, and make decisions using objective logic or subjective values. Consequently, what is the purpose of theory? Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge within the limits of critical bounding assumptions. The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study.What is an example of a theory in psychology?Functional theories. explain psychological phenomena in terms of their function or purpose. For example, one prominent theory of repeated self-injury (e.g., cutting) is that people do it because it produces a short-term reduction in the intensity of negative emotions that they are feeling (Tantam & Huband, 2009).
