Question

What is the term for the conflict among roles corresponding to two or more statuses? What is the term for the tension among roles connected to a single status?

Answer 1

Role conflict is the term for the conflict among roles corresponding to two or more statuses.

When people struggle to fulfil the demands of various statuses they have at home, in the society and at the workplace, people would face role conflict. One person may play the role of son, brother, husband, employee, manager etc. and if the person performs well in one role and fails in other roles, one would face role conflict.

Role strain is the term for the tension among roles connected to a single status.

Role Strain suggests that when people are not able to accomplish their tasks due to lack of time, resources, skills and knowledge, they would experience role strain which occurs only in one role. This would mean that people might need enough resources and facilities to fulfil the job requirements and in the absence of the same, one would experience role strain.

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