A social role is behavior that we expect to see from a person occupying any social status. Each person has many roles. For example, a woman - she's someone's mother, wife, sister, housewife, business lady, etc. The diversity of social groups, relationships in these groups, types of activities served as an excuse for classifying social statuses.
Thus, two types of roles were singled out:
- interpersonal;
- social;
Interpersonal roles are associated with different types of relationships. They are based on emotional background. This category includes leaders, outcasts, pets, etc. Social roles are related to the position of a person in society, a kind of activity or profession. This group includes socio-demographic categories - husband, daughter, son.
American sociologist Talks Paterson explained the following concepts and types of social roles:
- Scale of the role. Some roles are strictly limited, while others are blurred. For example, the relationship of husband and wife - these are large-scale statuses. They are linked by interpersonal relationships - love, affection, respect, as well as social ones, confirmed by regulatory enactments.
- Method of preparation. Roles are prescribed and conquered. It depends on the need for a role for a certain person. For example, the role of a woman, a man, an elderly person does not require any effort, this role is obtained automatically. But we achieve the status of a student, teacher, driver - each of this category needs to make some efforts to obtain this status.
- Degree of formalization. Human activities can occur arbitrarily or in a rigid framework. Some types of social roles require strict regulations, rules of conduct, others do not imply any prohibitions and frameworks. For example, the relationship of the violator of traffic rules with the traffic police officer will be strictly formal
- Motivation. As a motivation, any benefit can be considered: the public good, personal profit, etc.
Whatever role life has presented to us, it is important to be able to carry it with dignity and serve as an example for others.