ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Grand theory

Alright kiddo, so imagine you want to understand why things happen in the world, like why people act a certain way or why some societies are different than others. That's what grand theory is all about. It's like having a big idea or theory that tries to explain everything.

Think of grand theory as a really big and strong building, like a skyscraper. The foundation of this building is made up of all the smaller theories and ideas that we have about how the world works. These include things like psychology, history, social sciences and many more.

Now, the floors of this building represent different levels of grand theory. The lower floors are more specific and focused, while the higher floors are broader and more general.

For example, on one of the lower floors, we have a specific idea or theory about why people behave in certain ways. On a floor above that, we have a broader theory about how different societies and cultures affect those behaviors. And on the highest floor, we have grand theories about how everything in the world is connected and affects each other.

Just like a building needs strong walls to hold it up, grand theories need evidence and research to support them. Scientists and researchers collect data and study different areas like history, sociology, and psychology to understand how these areas are connected.

So, grand theory is like building a big picture of everything in the world. It helps scientists and researchers understand how people and society work together, and how different parts of the world interact with each other.
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