ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the emergence and decline of theories, highlighting many ways theories fall out of favor (e.g., the originator dies or loses interest, passage of time makes theory less unique, changes in the context make the theory less relevant, difficulty in testing the theory make is less attractive). Using a detailed discussion of the origins and development of political perceptions theory, this chapter illustrates the processes by which theories develop and change. We show how key concepts in political perceptions theory have developed over time, and how external factors influenced the development of the theory. We lay out the likely course of future development of this theory and links between this theory to other important trends in the literature (e.g., increasing attention to incivility).
