role structure (social role structure)

Definition of Role Structure

(noun) The set of roles in a social system.

Example of Role Structure

• A classroom has a teacher and students with each performing particular roles or a restaurant has customers and employees.
  

Role Structure Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: role struc·ture

Audio Pronunciation

International Phonetic Alphabet

• American English – /roʊl ˈstrʌkʧər/
• British English – /rəʊl ˈstrʌkʧə/

Usage Notes

• Plural: role structures
• The terms “role structure” and “social role structure” are used interchangeably in a sociological context.
• Role structure changes in complexity and content in different situations, the constant is role expectation.
• Variant spelling: role-structure

Related Video

Additional Information

• Role Theory Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
• Word origin of “role” and “structure” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com

Related Terms

• norm
• role
• role conflict
• role exit
• role expectation
• role performance
• role set
• role strain
• role taking
• role theory
• status

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Cite the Definition of Role Structure

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “role structure.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved April 26, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/role-structure/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

role structure. (2014). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/role-structure/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “role structure.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed April 26, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/role-structure/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“role structure.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/role-structure/>.