The Role Theory: What Is Our Role In Society?
We can describe social roles as the roles we play in society. These roles describe in detail and reflect the activities or behaviors people expect from us in a particular social environment.
Who are the people who determine what actions we should take? Has anyone already assigned us that role or did we create it ourselves? In this article we will answer these questions.
We play a role in all groups. We can easily see this in a team. There we have, for example, the defender or the striker, the captain or the point guard. Also in families there are roles such as the mother, the father or the brother. They also exist at work: the director, the secretary, the colleague or the assistant.
Depending on the context, one person can play multiple roles. So they can be a work colleague, a son in a family or the joker in a group of friends.
We can develop our own roles or we can adapt to existing roles. Other group members may initially determine the kind of behavior they expect from you. These expectations are generalized. Ultimately, each person will have to accept your personal characteristics.
Stress factors associated with roles
Problems arise from our roles in society. They can come from different sources:
ambiguity
In this case, someone expects us to adapt to a role we don’t really understand. The role is not clear. So we don’t know what others expect of us or how they want us to contribute to the group.
Opposing roles
In this section we talk about two ideas.
In the first case, there is a conflict within one and the same role. This happens when the role doesn’t fit the person. For whatever reason, we are unable to adapt to what people ask of us.
That is because their requests are beyond our capabilities. What they ask can also conflict with our values. This means that we don’t feel good when we act according to their wishes.
The other kind of problem is when two different roles are contradictory to each other. For example, I can have two different roles in one group. Maybe I am a scientist and I will also continue with my studies. Or I’m a parent with a job.
This situation will bring stress. That’s because it will be very difficult to live up to the expectations that both roles demand.
Assigned roles
These are the problems that arise as a result of having to adapt to a role that people have already defined for us. In these situations, there is little room to build and expand the role and make it a unique role for us.
The gender roles are a good example of this type of stress. If you’re a girl, you may feel like you have to act a certain way to be feminine. This also applies if these actions are not genuine who you are.
Role overload
When people expect too much from us, we become overwhelmed. The roller can then take too much energy. This causes us to transcend our ability to adapt. In turn, this creates stress.
bad roles
This problem is the opposite of role overload. Unlike role overload, a role is bad when we feel we are not being used to our maximum potential. We then feel that we can give more of ourselves. However, our role does not allow this to happen.
Developing a role in society
Our roles in society or in a group are dynamic and constantly evolving. In many cases, during this change, we ourselves have the greatest responsibility for how it changes. In this sense, problems usually arise when we become lost and unsure of ourselves.
This happens when we try to take on a role that transcends our limitations. It can also happen when we bring ourselves to too much change too quickly. Our bodies and minds have a hard time reacting to radical changes.
Actually, our roles should be unique and non-transferable. When we come into a new group, there may be things we need to adjust to. These roles are therefore likely to be accompanied by a series of guidelines and actions. However, they should be at our service and not the other way around.
It takes time and intelligence to expand your role. After all, your role in society is an opportunity to show the world what you are capable of.
