Rollenstudium

Rollenstudium is a German term used primarily in two contexts: theatre and social sciences. In theatre and performance training, Rollenstudium signifies the deliberate study and preparation of a character for a performance. It includes textual analysis, psychological exploration of the role, backstory creation, defining the character’s objectives and tactics, and integrating voice, movement, and physicality. The practice is a core element of actor training in German-speaking theatre schools and conservatories and draws on established acting pedagogies, including early theory and methods that emphasize immersive character work.

In social sciences, Rollenstudium can describe the study of social roles and how they are performed within groups, organizations, and communities. Researchers examine how individuals understand and meet the expectations attached to particular roles (such as student, employee, parent), how they navigate multiple roles, and how institutions shape role definitions and compliance. The approach intersects with role theory, role conflict, and role strain, and is used in qualitative and ethnographic research to analyze everyday interactions and institutional norms.

The exact usage of the term varies by institution and discipline, and some contexts may prefer related terms such as Rollenarbeit or Rollenanalyse. As a concept, Rollenstudium thus covers both practical techniques for actor preparation and theoretical analyses of how social roles are enacted and governed in social life.