Question 40

This is an example of role conflict.

Role conflict occurs when an individual faces competing expectations from different roles they occupy. In this scenario, the person experiences demands from two distinct roles that cannot be simultaneously fulfilled, leading to conflict.

A) Master status

Master status refers to a social status that holds particular importance and influences how an individual is perceived in society. While relevant in discussions of identity, it does not capture the essence of competing demands from multiple roles, making it incorrect in this context.

B) Role conflict

Role conflict accurately describes the situation where an individual is confronted with incompatible demands or expectations from different roles they occupy. This conflict can lead to stress and difficulty in fulfilling obligations, aligning directly with the example provided.

C) Role strain

Role strain refers to the difficulty an individual experiences when trying to meet expectations within a single role. Unlike role conflict, which involves multiple roles, role strain does not pertain to the incompatibility between different roles, thus making it incorrect in this context.

D) Status set

A status set is the collection of all the statuses that an individual holds at a given time. While it relates to social identity, it does not address the conflict arising from different roles, rendering it irrelevant to the question posed.

Conclusion

Role conflict is the only option that directly addresses the scenario of facing competing expectations from multiple roles, making it the correct choice. The other options, while related to social roles and statuses, do not adequately describe the situation of conflicting demands, thereby failing to capture the core concept of the question.