Question 36

This is an example of role conflict.

Role conflict occurs when an individual faces competing demands from different roles they occupy, leading to uncertainty about how to behave. In Diego's case, the close friendship between his teacher and one of his parents creates a situation where he feels conflicted about what he can share with his teacher.

A) Master status

Master status refers to a social status that holds particular significance and overshadows other statuses a person may hold. In this scenario, the relationship between Diego's teacher and parent does not define Diego’s identity in a way that dominates other aspects of his life; thus, this option is not applicable.

B) Role conflict

Role conflict is accurately represented here as Diego navigates the complexities of his relationship with both his teacher and parent. This situation creates competing expectations, causing him to feel unsure about his interactions with the teacher, making this the correct option.

C) Role strain

Role strain occurs when an individual experiences difficulty in fulfilling the expectations of a single role. In this situation, Diego is not struggling with one specific role but is instead caught between the conflicting roles of being a student and the child of a parent who is friends with his teacher, so this option is not suitable.

D) Status set

A status set refers to the collection of social statuses that an individual holds at any given time. While Diego may have multiple statuses (student, son), the primary issue here is not about the status set but the conflict arising from these statuses, making this option incorrect.

Conclusion

The situation described is a clear instance of role conflict, as Diego is uncertain about how to interact with his teacher due to the overlapping personal relationship with his parent. The other options either misrepresent the dynamics at play or do not apply to the nature of his interactions. Thus, role conflict is the most accurate description of Diego's experience.