Roles

Roles are patterns of expected behavior associated with a particular position within a social system. They emerge as individuals occupy positions such as parent, student, employee, or citizen, and are shaped by norms, values, and situational context. Roles guide conduct, define rights and duties, and influence status within a group.

In sociology, role theory analyzes how people perform roles and negotiate expectations. Socialization teaches individuals the duties and scripts appropriate to a given position. Role performance can vary by context and by how closely a person adheres to or improvises the role. When multiple roles are held, conflicts can arise between competing expectations, a situation known as role conflict; when demanding tasks strain a single role’s resources, it is called role strain. Role ambiguity occurs when expectations are unclear.

In organizations, roles map to jobs and responsibilities. Clear role definitions support coordination, accountability, and governance. In information security, role-based access control assigns permissions by role rather than by individual, promoting least privilege and simplifying management.

In theatre and media, a role refers to a character to be portrayed by an actor, with actors performing according to scripts and direction. The concept also appears in research, where it helps analyze how identities and behavior are shaped by social expectations.