explain individual agency in negotiating their role and that role theory artificially merges roles when in practice an individual might combine roles together. Others have argued that the concept of role takes on such a broad definition as to be meaningless. See also Behaviorism Conformity Deviance (sociology) Dramaturgical perspective Game studies Generalized other Hedonism Role engulfment Role model Role suction Transactional analysis Notes References Bibliography Robert K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure, 1949 Ralf Dahrendorf, Homo sociologicus, 1958 (in German, many editions) Rose Laub Coser, "The Complexity of Roles as a Seedbed of Individual Autonomy", in: The Idea of Social Structure: Papers in Honor of Robert K. Merton, 1975 Ralph Linton, The Study of Man'', Chapter 8, "Status and Role", 1936 External links