Role theory treats any viewpoint someone can embody as a role: social or functional identities, personal qualities, emotions, thoughts, behaviors, themes, and ideas. Roles exist both consciously and unconsciously within groups. Conflict intensifies when a role becomes fixed to one person or faction, making other viewpoints difficult to recognize. Role fluidity loosens these attachments so people can identify with several roles and recognize themselves in others. section 8.3.3 section 8.7
Use role theory to reopen polarized conversations:
- Name the visible roles in the disagreement, such as leader, researcher, supporter, analytic, pusher, anger, or dissenting viewpoint. section 8.3.3
- Notice which roles have become attached to particular people or isolated parts of the group. section 8.3.3
- Invite participants to recognize that several roles can coexist within one person and that the group can share a role for different reasons. section 8.3.3
- Reflect on recurring meeting patterns and use the group’s own language to make tensions and viewpoints discussable. section 8.7
The BigScreen impasse
At BigScreen, Jack’s conflict had hardened through alliances and polarization. Because the opposing viewpoint no longer fit his own, the conversation reached an impasse. Rather than forcing agreement in one session, make the competing roles visible, identify where they are stuck, and help participants relate to viewpoints they had rejected. section 8.3.3 section 8.7
