role

role
/rohl/, n.
1. a part or character played by an actor or actress.
2. proper or customary function: the teacher's role in society.
3. Sociol. the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social status.
Also, rôle.
[1600-10; < F rôle ROLL (as of paper) containing the actor's part]
Syn. 2. capacity, position, responsibility, duty.

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      in sociology, the behaviour expected of an individual who occupies a given social position or status. A role is a comprehensive pattern of behaviour that is socially recognized, providing a means of identifying and placing an individual in a society. It also serves as a strategy for coping with recurrent situations and dealing with the roles of others (e.g., parent–child roles). The term, borrowed from theatrical usage, emphasizes the distinction between the actor and the part. A role remains relatively stable even though different people occupy the position: any individual assigned the role of physician, like any actor in the role of Hamlet, is expected to behave in a particular way. An individual may have a unique style, but this is exhibited within the boundaries of the expected behaviour.

      Role expectations include both actions and qualities: a teacher may be expected not only to deliver lectures, assign homework, and prepare examinations but also to be dedicated, concerned, honest, and responsible. Individuals usually occupy several positions, which may or may not be compatible with one another: one person may be husband, father, artist, and patient, with each role entailing certain obligations, duties, privileges, and rights vis-à-vis other persons. See also social status.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
, (in a play)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • rôle — rôle …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • rôle — [ rol ] n. m. • fin XIIe; lat. médiév. rotulus « parchemin roulé », de rota « roue » → enrôler 1 ♦ Dr., admin. Feuille (recto et verso) d un acte notarié, d une expédition de jugement, d un cahier des charges. (1454) Registre où sont portées, par …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • rôle — Rôle. s. m. La premiere syllabe est longue. On escrivoit autrefois Roole, & on appelloit ainsi une ou plusieurs feüilles de papier, de parchemin, collées bout à bout, surquoy on escrivoit des actes, des titres. Grand rôle. petit rôle. Aujourd huy …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • role — W3 [rəul US roul] n [Date: 1600 1700; : French; Origin: rôle roll, role , from Old French rolle; ROLL2] 1.) the way in which someone or something is involved in an activity or situation, and how much influence they have on it role in ▪ the role… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • role — role, social role, role theory Role is a key concept in sociological theory. It highlights the social expectations attached to particular statuses or social positions and analyses the workings of such expectations. Role theory was particularly… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • role — [ roul ] noun count *** 1. ) the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation: It s not my role to tell the politicians what to do. role in: We expect parents to have a key role in this discussion. play a role: Labor… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Role — Rôle Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Administration publique Rôle : catalogue ou registre officiel, contenant une liste ordonnée rôle des impôts, rôle de la taille, rôle des combats …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Role — bezeichnet den Namen von 3 Dörfern in Polen: Role in der Woiwodschaft Lublin, siehe Role (Łukow) Role in der Woiwodschaft Pommern], siehe Role (Miastko) Role in der Woiwodschaft Westpommern, siehe Role (Rąbino) in der Informationstechnik eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • role — [rōl] n. [Fr rôle, lit., a roll: from roll containing actor s part] 1. a part, or character, that an actor plays in a performance 2. a function or office assumed by someone [an advisory role]: Often rôle …   English World dictionary

  • role — (n.) part or character one takes, c.1600, from Fr. rôle part played by a person in life, lit. roll (of paper) on which an actor s part is written, from O.Fr. rolle (see ROLL (Cf. roll) (n.)). Role model first attested 1957 …   Etymology dictionary

  • role — role, rôle → rol …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

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