SCHOLAR: THEORY OF THEORY FORMALITY

Theories can be formal, semiformal or informal and it is determined through its audience or who it are intended for and the purpose.  Theories vary in degree of educational expertise.  Formal academic theories include structural functionalism, theory of deterrence and  the interest group theory.  Formal theories start from observing a phenomena.  When the Scientist observes a phenomena he or she then creates a hypothesis.  A hypothesis is a statement that has yet to be proven and can be tested in a scientific experiment.  Theories on the other hand are proved with facts, evidence and supporting evidence in a formal academic way through the Scientific Method.  Such theories are published in academic journals or textbooks.  These theories serve as a method by which the interested can utilize it to function their operation whatever that may be.  The operation could be a scientific experiment, it could be a formal inquiry on a specific event or it can even be a business.  Whatever the reason may be, formal theories serve as a tool by which results can be maximized and losses reduced.  This is because the theories are tested and proven in a rigorous way.  These theories serve to act on social normativity in the professional community.  Through formal theories authority is created and such authority is delegated from a regulatory body to an institution of education.  When theories are published in academia, it establishes the university rankings as other scholars seek the citation.  These formal theories serve as a method for social control such that it governs the actions of the person attempting to do something pertaining to the theory.  The difference between law and theory is that law is a form of deterrence serving to socially control (govern) the actions of citizens whereas theories serve as guideline.  Henceforth theory and law are subsequently methods of social control in different degrees whereas, law has a higher extent of social control than formal theories.  There are a categories of law of which include substantiative, procedural, public and private law.  These are methods of social control and deterrence serving to ensure that individuals in society conduct themselves per the rule of law.  These originated from social contract wherein individuals mutually agreed to conduct their activities in a civil manner when in consideration of one another.  Social Contract Theory originated from the observations of Scientist and their reflection of human interaction.  It likely became a working theory wherein the concept of the rule of law was created.  Henceforth, theory creates and reifies phenomena in society.  Thus, theories are important, and their importance can’t be denied.  

Ex.  Structural functionalism.  This theory states the government has a structure and its structure has functions.  There are what are called process functions, system functions and policy functions.  These all take feedback from the domestic environment and the outputs of other nations so that the government structure can articulate interest, aggregate interest, create policy and implement policy so that extraction, regulation and distribution can occur.  

Semi formal theories such as theories create by an interest group serve the interest of a specific entity such is the case with Erations Conglomerate socially constructed theories.  Semi formal theories like, the formal theories are started from a hypothesis.  However, these semiformal theories have yet to undergo rigorous testing under a formal scientific experiment thus, they are less tested and proven.  Despite these however, semiformal theories serve the interest of the interest group that socially constructed it.  Thus, such theories created by interest groups still have utility never the less.  The utility is that the theories serve as a method to function something within the interest group.  Theories also serve as a method by which activity can be explained.  As was stated above, these all serve to reify.  The reification process makes phenomena an actuality rather than a hypothetical.  By making something an actuality through theories it creates facts, evidence and supporting evidence.  In a court of law, these can be used to defend or to prosecute.  And such theories serve as a method to socially control or influence the decision maker in his or her attempt to create a verdict, ruling or decision via ratiodecendendi.  Some interest groups such as Erations Conglomerate, operate according to these theories as a method to maintain accountability.  It is the accountability that serves the people well when services are provided to them.  

Ex.  Theory of Standardization.  This is a socially created theory via the process of the social constructionism used within an interest group.  This theory says that “Social normativity causes people to act in normative ways causing validation resulting in standardization. Essentially homogeny.  Standardization is a result of similar values beliefs and morals with respect to rule of law.  These create a perspective.”  And that perspective serves to act on realism.  

And, lastly there are the theories that require less education as such they are informal as is the case of the Theory of the Emotional Vagina.  In these theories, it is used to mobilize or compel the less educated, to garner attention and to gain traction.  Informal theories use high and low culture to be able to create interest via affecting popular culture.  The Liberalist view is that human nature is inherently “good” however it is the informal theories that compel the audience to action this is because some of these theories have a “negative” perspective.  By using such informal theories, interest is created such that people are obliged.  This is the utility of such informal theories.  These theories serve to socialize people.  Socialization is the method by which culture is affected.  Culture can be defined as shared beliefs, values and morals.  Socialization through informal theories helps people come together via direct and indirect socialization.  A main tenant of socialization is the process of communication.  Informal theories serve as a method by which the various modes of communication can create interest.  Methods of communication include the following interpersonal, intra personal, group communication and mass communication.  In the process of communication verbal and non- verbal cues are exchanges.  There is always a sender and a receiver.  Messages are conveyed and these get decoded.  The messages sent in between these conversations could be based on the informal theories.  And it is these informal theories that serve to spark conversation and potentially intrigue imagination.  By using socialization, the informal theory attempts to make an ideal and in that ideal, ideology are created.  When an ideology is created a phantasmagoria can result.  The effect is privilege.  Further, informal theories serve as a method by which social control can be achieved.  It is also a method by which deterrence can occur.  Informal theories are not often published via written communication as is the case with formal and informal theories, despite these however, these theories serve as a method by which to guide people in a direction rather than to serve as authorities.  The issue with these informal theories is the liabilities and those that socially construct such theories must have mechanisims in place to protect themselves and such mechanisim is what is refered to as "liabilities protection".  Liabilities protection happens when an informal theory has created a contraversy.  It is the "liabilities protection" that serves to provide "honest" disclosure on the phenomena which has been potentially masked with deceit in self interest of the involved individuals or groups in which the theory created.  Liabilities protection is necessary as certain laws can implicate such informal theories.  Although many of these informal theories are unwritten they can still cause people to respond in offensive ways.  Regaurdless these serve as a caveat emptor in law.  

Ex.  The Theory of the Emotional Vagina.  This is a socially constructed theory for an SBU of an interest group.  This theory says that the partner or love interest needs the ego defense mechanisms to be able to cope with a certain group of individuals could be the publics or it could be the opposition etc. The theory further goes on to say that the treatment of such individual needs to be considerate of such group/s wherein such treatment serves to be able to develop coping mechanisms and ego defenses such that it prepares him or her for interaction with that group or groups.  The theory also posits that explicitness is used to affect the psyche. This theory also depicts the experience of the individual actioning the theory in that that individual has the coping mechanisms and ego defenses from interactions within those group or groups.  This theory is a socialization theory which serves to protect the love interest from those seeking negativity on him or her and the individual actioning the theory.   

With these formal, semiformal and informal theories, it becomes clear that they are highly contrasted.  Their utility is based on the demands of the individual actioning the theory on various social levels with various educational expertise requirements.  Such is the case when an individual participates in activity in a high functioning jobs which requires education.  In these positions he or she would action the theories differently when in contrast to a socialization job not requiring educational expertise.  Essentially, these theories serve to reify.  

WORK CITED

Powell, et al.  (2012).  Comparative Politics Today.  Illinois, USA.  Pearson. 

Sens, et al.  (2005).  Global Politics.  Ontario, Canada.  Thomson Nelson.

Yates, R., et al.  (2017).  Business Law in Canada.  Ontario, Canada.  Pearson.