Role Theory
Role theory is the sociological study of role development, concerned with explaining what forces cause people to develop the expectations of their own and others' behaviours. According to sociologist Bruce Biddle (1986), the five major models of role theory include:
- Functional Role Theory, which examines role development as shared social norms for a given social position,
- Symbolic Interactionist Role Theory, which examines role development as the outcome of individual interpretation of responses to behaviour,
- Structural Role Theory, which emphasises the influence of society rather than the individual in roles and utilises mathematical models,
- Organizational Role Theory, which examines role development in organisations, and
- Cognitive Role Theory, which is summarised by Flynn and Lemay as "the relationship between expectations and behaviours"
Read more about this topic: Role
Famous quotes containing the words role and/or theory:
“Certainly parents play a crucial role in the lives of individuals who are intellectually gifted or creatively talented. But this role is not one of active instruction, of teaching children skills,... rather, it is support and encouragement parents give children and the intellectual climate that they create in the home which seem to be the critical factors.”
—David Elkind (20th century)
“Frankly, these days, without a theory to go with it, I can’t see a painting.”
—Tom Wolfe (b. 1931)