We all recognizethat the world has both concrete events and physical objects that we can touch and see (e.g., holdingthis book) as well as abstract ideas that reside in ourminds (e.g., the meaning of freedom and justice).When we encounter many unfamiliar abstract ideasand the ideas are poorly defined, whether intentionally or not, we quickly experience anxiety and frustration. Social theory consists of interconnectedabstract ideas. Some of the ideas are linked onlyloosely to the observable world or familiar ideas.Until we learn a theory’s ideas and see their connections, it is no surprise that discussing abstractideas can make us feel uncomfortable