Introduction to Sociology/Sociological Theory : Role Theory

Summary

  Paragraphs about Role Theory explain element contents of Role Theory, opinions of Role theorists, limitation, and impression management.

  Role Theory is one of original approach to understanding social life. According to this theory, all behavior are formed by other social members' expectation. So people's behavior is predictive, roles and beliefs and attitudes hold mutual relation. Role theorists also say that these above things are compellable.

  But Role Theory has 2 limitations although those opinions of theorists. First, it can't apply to social deviance. Deviance come into discordance of roles and expectations, and then eventually occur role conflict. Second, Role Theory has fallacy in existence of role expectations and how to change expectations.

  Impression management is the sum of Role Theory and social role reception stage. In other words self presentation, efforts to influence or change other social members' conception in social interaction, is added to Role Theory.

Learned Items

  Through reading paragraphs about Role Theory, I can understand how to social role and behavior are formed. Most interest things are self presentation and reason of behavior. These two things can explain features of group society as well as role action. People make group, and they have many roles naturally. In other words, groups must decide role action and role expectation. According to Role Theory, it is no wonder thing, a prior condition.

Question

  I have a question about 'Role Theory propositions' text in passage. Why Role theorists think that people usually conform to others' expectation and given roles?