Explain how role differentiation satisfies two competing needs for humans as cultural animals

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Possible Response Points
• Humans have to balance two competing needs--the need for similarity to fit into a group and the need for uniqueness to be identifiable within that group context.
• When humans lose the sense of self-awareness and identifiability within a group, they are said to be deindividuated. Research has often associated some fairly negative behaviors with this psychological state of mind.
• Role differentiation helps avoid deindividuation. Role differentiation occurs when a person makes a unique contribution within the context of the group. Perhaps it is the role of leader, perhaps it is devil's advocate, perhaps the role of musician, or teacher, or soldier. Whatever the role, the contribution of the individual member occupying the role is distinct and identifiable in comparison to other possible roles within the group's cultural system.
• At the same time, the role in the context of the group system helps bond the members occupying those roles to the group. The roles develop in the context of the group to contribute to some need of the group. As individuals occupy and perform different roles, they are still contributing to the common identity of the group.