In many communities the term "theory" is far overused. It is used to represent any possible explaination for a condition or event no matter how off the wall or untested it may be. This, however, is not the case. There is another word for this: Hypothesis.
In laymans terms, "theory" and "hypothesis" are interchangable. To the scientific community, this is not so.
Hypothesis: An unproven idea based on anectdotal evidence or observation only with no experimental backing.
Theory: A hypothesis that has been tested experimentally by multiple researches and found true.
From this, we see that a hypothesis is an untested idea with no backing and a theory often has a scientific or analytical backing. Because of these definitions, all "theories" related to sanguinarians are actually hypothesis. There have been no true scientific or analytical studies of the condition, thus the ideas set forth as causes can only be hypothesis. Plus, a single person cannot create a theory, as multiple tests from outside sources are required to confirm or deny the plausibility of a hypothesis. A single person can only create a hypothesis.
A hypothesis can becaome a theory with the proper scientific testing, however. Now, this does not give them any less credence, mearly sets them for what they truly are...untested ideas.
This sets us up for a brief discussion of the scientific method:
The scientific method consists of four steps:
1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. (X happens!)
2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. (X happens because of Y)
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations. (Since X happens due to Y, then Z should happen also since Y and Z are similar)
4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments. (Yes, we all have tested and found that X causes Y and Z)
Again, we see the plurality... no ONE person can confirm a hypothesis.
Becaue of these definitions, I only use "theory" when it is a term used by another author. In my own articles, all ideas for the cause of sanguinarianism are hypothesis.