BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie

example, two persons, who bear the title of knighthood and thus holding
same social positions, might be performing completely different roles.
Also, many statuses are wholly or partly defined with reference to roles
which their occupants are expected to perform. For example policemen,
poets, etc.
As was said above a person can play simultaneously many roles,
but in order to play any role, individuals must meet certain conditions, for
instance biological or sociological. A boy cannot take the biological role
of mother because of biological reason as well as a doctor cannot practice
medicine without certificate (social reason). The role achievement and
development can be also influenced by a additional factors. Some of them
ate as follow:
Societal factor: The structure of society often forms individuals
into certain roles based on the social situations they choose to experience.
Parents enrolling their children in certain programs at a young age increase
the chance that the child will follow that role.
Genetic predisposition: People take on roles that come naturally to
them. Those with athletic ability generally take on roles of athletes. Those
with mental genius often take on roles devoted to education and
knowledge. This does not mean that people must choose only one path,
multiple roles can be taken on by each individual
Cultural influence: Different cultures place different values on
certain roles based on their lifestyle. For instance, soccer players are
regarded higher in European countries than in the United States, where
soccer is less popular.
Situational influence: Roles can be created or altered based on the
situation a person is put in outside their own influence. For instance a
person must assume the role of leader even such a position is improper for
his personality.
In many case a person performs many roles consistently, but there
are situations in which it is not possible, there are situation when one is
forced to take on two different and incompatible roles at the same time.
This situation is called the situation of role conflict. For example, a person
may find conflict between her role as a mother and her role as an
employee of a company when her child's demands for time and attention
distract her from the needs of her employer.
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