Officer Friel has just pulled over a motorist exceeding the speed limit by 40 miles per hour. When he approached the vehicle, he
recognizes the driver as his best friend's daughter. Officer Friel is aware that the young lady has had some money problems and the last thing she can afford is a $200 speeding ticket that will also raise her insurance rates. At this point, which of the following terms BEST describes the position facing Officer Friel? A. Officer Friel is experiencing role strain. B. Officer Friel is experiencing role conflict. C. Officer Friel is now engaged in role reversal. D. Officer Friel is faced with status inconsistency.
Role conflict occurs when there are contradictions between different roles that a person takes on or plays in their everyday life. Officer Friel plays the role of a fatherly figure to his friends daughter and at the same time must also play is role as an officer, this is conflict in roles.
On the other, role strain is a tension experienced with a single role. For example, officer Friel as a police officer may face the strain of attending to an emergency or filing some important duty report.
