role conflict

American  

noun

1. emotional conflict arising when competing demands are made on an individual in the fulfillment of their multiple social roles.

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role conflict Cultural  

1. A situation in which a person is expected to play two incompatible roles. For example, a boss will suffer role conflict if forced to fire an employee who is also a close friend.

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Etymology

Origin of role conflict

First recorded in 1960–65

Compare meaning

How does role-conflict compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• role strain vs. role conflict

Example Sentences

"Taken together low self-esteem and gender role conflict, which is an underlying sense of insecurity about one's masculinity, contribute more to the overuse of these products than body dissatisfaction alone," he explained.

From Reuters • Aug. 6, 2015