| gender role | The sex of a child assigned by a parent; when opposite to the child's anatomical sex (e.g., due to genital ambiguity at birth or to the parents' strong wish for a child of the opposite sex), the basis is set for postpubertal dysfunctions. See: sex role, sex reversal. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| role | The expected and characteristic pattern of behaviour exhibited by an individual as a member of a particular social group. (12 Dec 1998) |
| role conflict | The dilemma an individual experiences when required to play two different parts (e.g., spouse and aggressive business competitor) that cannot be easily harmonised. (05 Mar 2000) |
| role playing | 1. The adopting or performing the role of another significant individual in order to gain insight into the behaviour of that person. 2. <psychology> A psychotherapeutic method used in psychodrama to understand and treat emotional conflicts through the enactment or re-enactment of stressful interpersonal events. See: psychodrama. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physician's role | The expected and characteristic behaviour of a physician as a member of the medical profession. (12 Dec 1998) |
| complementary role | A role in which the behaviour pattern conforms with the expectations and demands of other people. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sex role | The degree to which an individual acts out a stereotypical masculine or feminine role in everyday behaviour. Compare: gender role. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sick role | Behaviour patterns consistent with those expected of an individual functioning in a state of ill health. (12 Dec 1998) |
| noncomplementary role | A role that does not conform with the expectations and demands of other people. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Rahe-Holmes social readjustment rating scale | A widely used scale in the social and behavioural sciences that assigns values to significant life events such as marriage, birth of offspring, bereavement, loss of job; such events correlate with emotional states. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hierarchy, social | Social rank-order established by certain behavioural patterns. (12 Dec 1998) |
| psychology, social | The branch of psychology concerned with the effects of group membership upon the behaviour, attitudes, and beliefs of an individual. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social | 1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. "Social phenomena." 2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person. 3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse. "Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication." (Milton) 4. <botany> Naturally growing in groups or masses; said of many individual plants of the same species. 5. <zoology> Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees. Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians. Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an organised community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labour, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like. <zoology> Social whale, the blackfish. The social evil, prostitution. Synonym: Sociable, companionable, conversible, friendly, familiar, communicative, convival, festive. Origin: L. Socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. Social. See Sue to follow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| social adaptation | Adjustment to living in accordance with interpersonal, social, and cultural norms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| social adjustment | Those types of relationships which involve the accommodation of the individual to circumstances in his social environment for the satisfaction of his needs or motives. (12 Dec 1998) |