Editing Role theory (section)

==Criticism and limitations==

Role theorists have noted that a weakness of role theory is in describing and explaining [[deviant]] behavior.

Role theory has been criticized for reinforcing commonly held prejudices about how people should behave;{{efn|name=ideo|"First, critics claim that role theory falsely reifies certain social  ideologies  into  concrete  realities  or  objective templates,  and  names  them  roles." The example of "motherhood" is discussed.<ref name="crit1">{{cite journal | last=Jackson | first=Jeanne | title=Contemporary criticisms of role theory | journal=Journal of Occupational Science | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=5 | issue=2 | year=1998 | issn=1442-7591 | doi=10.1080/14427591.1998.9686433 | pages=49–55}}</ref>}} have ways they should portray themselves as well as how others should behave,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Biddle|first=B. J.|date=August 1986|title=Recent Developments in Role Theory|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.so.12.080186.000435|journal=Annual Review of Sociology|volume=12|issue=1|pages=67–92|doi=10.1146/annurev.so.12.080186.000435|issn=0360-0572|url-access=subscription}}</ref> view the individual as responsible for fulfilling the expectations of a role rather than others responsible for creating a role that they can perform,{{efn|name=individual|"When using role conflict to analyze deviant behavior, role theorists rely on explanations of insufficient socialization or a  mismatch between one's personality and behavioral expectations as the primary reasons an individual does not engage in proper behavior"<ref name="crit1"/>}} and people have argued that role theory insufficiently explains power relations, as in some situations an individual does not consensually fulfill a role but is forced into behaviors by power.{{efn|name=force|<ref name="crit1"/> gives the example of coercion rather than willingly performing a role effecting behaviour: "In these cases,  internalized behavior resulting from  a consensual socialization process does not necessarily account for the individuals' actions"}}
It is also argued that role theory does not explain individual agency in negotiating their role{{efn|name=|"Fourth,  role  theory  fails  to  provide  an  authentic account of human agency, more specifically, the subjective experience of an  individual's engagement in occupation"<ref name="crit1"/>}} and that role theory artificially merges roles when in practice an individual might combine roles together.{{efn|name=bracket|"Bracketing  occupation  into  various roles  provides  the  illusion  that  life  is  partitioned into isolated segments which can be dealt with independently."<ref name="crit1"/>}}

Others have argued that the concept of role takes on such a broad definition as to be meaningless.{{efn|name=meaningless|"The charge has been made that referents for the term 'role' are so heterogeneous as to defy rigorous study and coherent theory formation"<ref name="turner">{{cite book|author1=Dennis Brissett|author2=Charles Edgley|title=Life As Theater: A Dramaturgical Sourcebook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2-oAQEKaZd0C&pg=PA85|date=1 January 2005|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=978-0-202-36711-8|pages=85–}}</ref>}}