What does the term 'role conflict' mean?

The term 'role conflict' refers to a struggle that occurs when an individual faces competing demands from different social roles that they occupy. This can happen when the expectations of one role clash with those of another, leading to feelings of stress and confusion regarding how to behave appropriately in each context.

For example, a person who is both a parent and a professional may experience role conflict if they are required to work late hours at their job while also wanting to attend an important event for their child. The push and pull between these social roles creates a conflict that can cause emotional strain and difficulty in meeting the demands of each role.

By contrast, clear expectations for behavior, differing group opinions, or a state of harmony among social roles do not accurately capture the essence of role conflict. In situations where expectations are clear, there is little to no conflict; when group opinions differ, the result is often disagreement rather than a conflict of roles; and harmony implies that the roles are working effectively together without struggle. Thus, 'role conflict' specifically denotes the tension arising from competing social responsibilities.