Role Congruence and Role Strain Among Urban Legislators

In: Social science quarterly, Band 54, Heft 1, S. 54-65

Abstract

Role congruence among Ur legislators in city council & Sch district settings was studied by analyzing the congruence between the representatives' view of the representational role & their reported behavior. On the basis of role theory it is hyp'ed that legislators will vary from each other in their extent of role congruence & that these variations are related to their role type. Extensive lack of congruence between role image & perceived behavior will lead to role strain. Role strain is defined as "the felt difficulty in fulfilling role obligations." Data were collected by interviews with 79 of a total of 83 legislators serving in 12 elected non-partisan bodies in 6 Ur, but not subUr, communities in the Greater Detroit Metropolitan Area. A considerable degree of role congruence was found among R's, contradicting the assumption that role occupants will strain to behave congruently with their role self-image. Representatives often made decisions in a manner incongruent with their self-image. Politicos & delegates were found to experience more role strain than trustees. In summary, the representational role is characterized by variability of role norms but relative uniformity of role behavior. Incongruence in turn is accompanied by dissatisfaction. Much of the incongruence between norms & behavior seems to be related to the unwillingness of the constituents to "cooperate" with the rep representative, ie, to "play their roles properly." Role theory presumes a soc system in which diff "players" engage in diff but reciprocal behaviors. 5 Tables. M. Maxfield.