According to sociologist Bruce J. Biddle, role theory is:
“A science concerned with the study of behaviors that are characteristic of persons within a context and with various processes that presumably produce, explain, or are affected by those behaviors. Perhaps the most common notion in role theory is that roles are associated with social positions or statuses. In general, a social position is an identity that designates a commonly recognized set of persons. The terms 'position,' 'school teacher,' 'janitor,' 'professional athlete,' 'hermit,' 'grandmother,' and 'juvenile delinquent' all refer to recognized sets of persons. Each constitutes a social position. Physicians write prescriptions, school teachers lecture in classrooms, janitors sweep up, and so forth. Thus, each social position is said to exhibit a characteristic role. In fact, when most of us think about roles or write about roles in our professional publications, it is the roles of social positions that we have in mind."
Biddle emphasizes that roles are behavioral: they are performed by individuals, shaped by their context, and reflect patterns of behavior characteristic of people in specific positions or environments.
A similar concept exists in Japanese: the word yakuwari, which translates to role or duty. Yakuwari refers to the functions, responsibilities, or positions that a person assumes within a given context—whether in the workplace, family, or society at large. It conveys not only the task of a role but also the expectation that one fulfills it for the sake of group harmony and collective well-being.
Interestingly, yakuwari is often used in contexts where autonomy is limited and where responsibilities are assigned rather than chosen. It reflects a cultural pattern where individuals carry out their expected duties with diligence—sometimes regardless of personal fulfillment.
This isn’t unique to Japanese society. Many of us across the world take on roles that we don’t choose, that we feel we have little control over, and that leave us feeling more drained than satisfied. We’re taught to fit into predefined molds, meet expectations, and maintain appearances—even when those roles no longer serve us.
At the heart of the Rolefulness book is an invitation to change that. We want to encourage you—and every reader—to challenge outdated role stereotypes and break free from roles defined solely by external expectations. Instead, we invite you to cultivate what we call role synergy.
Role synergy: the dynamic harmony that arises when personal authenticity is shared in relationships and expressed through social contribution.
Creating Role Synergy
Role synergy occurs when your role becomes an authentic expression of who you are—where your actions are guided by intention and grounded in your values. In other words, your role isn’t just something you perform; it becomes a natural extension of your identity—your authentic self.
So, what does it mean to express your authentic self?
That question could lead us down a long philosophical rabbit hole. Instead, we’d like to offer a Japanese perspective on the self—through the concept of jibunrashii.
The term jibunrashii translates loosely as “like oneself” or “worthy of oneself.”
- Jibun means “myself,” “yourself,” or “oneself.”
- Rashii means “-ish,” “like,” “typical of,” or “appropriate for.”
- Breaking it down further, bun means “part” or “portion.”
So, jibun can be understood as your part—the part of you that participates in life, relationships, and society. The part that has the potential to create role synergy with others by showing up genuinely and meaningfully in each context.
This now brings us to how we define a role:
A pattern of behavior expressed within a social context that becomes meaningful when it aligns with one’s authentic self—what the Japanese call jibunrashii. A role is not merely a duty or expectation assigned by others; it is a space of participation where your unique qualities contribute to something larger than yourself. When this alignment occurs, we call it role synergy—the dynamic harmony between self-expression and social contribution.
In the book, Rolefulness, we’ll show you how to experience role fulfillment across the many contexts of your life. But before we do that, we need to pause and take a long, honest look at the lack of role satisfaction in our society—and perhaps, in our own lives.