Exam 4: Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life.

Correct Answer:

Verified

Individuals frequently distance themselves from a role they find extremely stressful or otherwise problematic. Role distancing occurs when people consciously foster the impression of a lack of commitment or attachment to a particular role and merely go through the motions of role performance. Role exit occurs when people disengage from social roles that have been central to their self-identity. According to sociologist Helen Ebaugh, (who studied this process by interviewing ex-convicts, ex-nuns, retirees, divorced men and women, and others who had exited voluntarily from significant social roles), role exit occurs in four stages. The first stage is doubt, in which people experience frustration or burnout when they reflect on their existing roles. The second stage involves a search for alternatives; here, people may take a leave of absence from their work or temporarily separate from their marriage partner. The third stage is the turning point, at which people realize that they must take some final action, such as quitting their job or getting a divorce. The fourth and final stage involves the creation of a new identity.