Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Role performance is the act of expressing a social role through behavior in social interactions. It involves conforming to expectations about how an individual should act in their assigned social position.
Related terms
Social Role: A set of behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms expected from an individual who occupies a particular social position.
Status: The relative social position within a group or society that someone holds, which influences their role performance.
The process by which individuals act and react in relation to others, often shaping and reshaping role performances based on the dynamics of interaction