Role Strain and Role Conflict

Question

Define role strain and role conflict, and provide illustrations of each.

Answer 1

Role strain can be responsibilitiesare attached with a single social role. Example: An individual has a role of a student and his role is to appear in the test. The strain occurs when the student has to appear for two different tests and both the tests are on the same day. Role conflict is a social situation in which an individual has to carry out two completely different and incompatible roles at the same time. Example: A person might find a conflict between her role as a mother and as an employee where she has to satisfy all the demands of her child by giving time and attention and at the same time has to pay attention to the requirements of her employer too.