Role conflict is a sociological concept that describes a situation in which contradictory, competing, or incompatible expectations are placed on an individual by two or more roles held at the same time. It occurs when there are contradictions between different roles that a person takes on or plays in their everyday life. For example, a mother who is also a doctor may experience role conflict when she has to work long hours at the hospital and may even be on call several nights a week, taking her away from her children/05%3A_Social_Interaction/5.03%3A_Elements_of_Social_Interaction/5.3C%3A_Role_Conflict).
Role conflict can be classified into two types: intra-role conflict and inter-role conflict. Intra-role conflict arises when differing expectations arise while performing the same role, while inter-role conflict arises when opposing demands are placed on the same person while performing different roles.
Role conflict is a universal concept, and we all have experienced it in some form at some point in our lives. For most of us, everyday life is a constant negotiation and balancing between various roles we are expected to perform in society.
