Ebook: Role Transitions: Explorations and Explanations

The concept of role transition refers to a wide range of experiences found in life: job change, unemployment, divorce, entering or leaving prison, retirement, immi­ gration, "Gastarbeiten," becoming a parent, and so on. Such transitions often produce strain and hence a variety of problems for the transiting individual, occu­ pants of complementary social positions, and other members of one's social group and community. In spite of the diversity of role transitions that occur, however, it is important also to realize that many basic psychological processes can be discerned in ostensibly different instances. Research on role transitions has been dispersed across many different subdisci­ of the social sciences; the problem can be investigated from several points of plines view and levels of analysis. As modern societies become ever more complex, role transitions can be expected to increase in number and diversity, with a concomitant increase in detrimental consequences for the individual and society. Hence, for rea­ sons of both theory and practice, improved conceptual models and new empirical data are needed. The chapters in this book are the outcome of a N.A.T.O. symposium convened for the purpose of discussing aspects of role transitions from international and inter­ disciplinary perspectives. The meeting was designed to be a working conference to facilitate as much intellectual exchange and debate among participants as possible.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
A Role Theoretical Perspective on Transitional Processes....Pages 3-18
Front Matter....Pages 19-20
Role Transition as Social Drama....Pages 21-37
Role Transitions and Social Networks: Social Support for Multiple Roles....Pages 39-51
Self-Identity Change and the Role Transition Process....Pages 53-61
Role Transition as Interrole Conflict....Pages 63-79
Career Transitions and Life Event Adaptation: Integrating Alternative Perspectives on Role Transition....Pages 81-94
Front Matter....Pages 95-96
Immigration as Role Transition: A Cognitive Analysis of Its Impact on Health....Pages 97-107
Transitions in Commitments to Roles and Self-Concept Change: Relocation as a Paradigm....Pages 109-124
Status Inconsistency Through Role Transitions: Toward a Systematic Attempt to Explain Causes and Patterns of Individual Reactions....Pages 125-136
Societal Change and Role Transitions into Adulthood....Pages 137-149
Front Matter....Pages 151-152
From Society into Prison and from Prison into Society....Pages 153-168
Entry and Re-entry Strain in Undercover Agents....Pages 169-179
Role Transitions in Small Groups....Pages 181-195
Transition to the Leader’s Role in Small Groups....Pages 197-209
Front Matter....Pages 211-213
Role Transition of Professionals Moving to Rural Locales....Pages 213-225
Organizational Role Differentiation and Individual Propensity for Role Changes....Pages 227-237
Transitions in Jobs, Occupational Socialization and Strain....Pages 239-252
Stress, Strain, and Social Support During a Role Transition....Pages 253-262
Job Loss, Unemployment and Psychological Well-Being....Pages 263-285
Front Matter....Pages 287-288
Construing the Transition to Parent Role as a Constructive Process....Pages 289-300
Front Matter....Pages 287-288
The Transition to a Parent-Caring Role by Adult Children....Pages 301-314
Divorce as a Dual Transition: Interpersonal Loss and Role Restructuring....Pages 315-329
Retirement as a Process of Active Role Transition....Pages 331-341
Front Matter....Pages 343-343
Managing Transitional Strain: Strategies and Intervention Techniques....Pages 345-355
Back Matter....Pages 257-371

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
A Role Theoretical Perspective on Transitional Processes....Pages 3-18
Front Matter....Pages 19-20
Role Transition as Social Drama....Pages 21-37
Role Transitions and Social Networks: Social Support for Multiple Roles....Pages 39-51
Self-Identity Change and the Role Transition Process....Pages 53-61
Role Transition as Interrole Conflict....Pages 63-79
Career Transitions and Life Event Adaptation: Integrating Alternative Perspectives on Role Transition....Pages 81-94
Front Matter....Pages 95-96
Immigration as Role Transition: A Cognitive Analysis of Its Impact on Health....Pages 97-107
Transitions in Commitments to Roles and Self-Concept Change: Relocation as a Paradigm....Pages 109-124
Status Inconsistency Through Role Transitions: Toward a Systematic Attempt to Explain Causes and Patterns of Individual Reactions....Pages 125-136
Societal Change and Role Transitions into Adulthood....Pages 137-149
Front Matter....Pages 151-152
From Society into Prison and from Prison into Society....Pages 153-168
Entry and Re-entry Strain in Undercover Agents....Pages 169-179
Role Transitions in Small Groups....Pages 181-195
Transition to the Leader’s Role in Small Groups....Pages 197-209
Front Matter....Pages 211-213
Role Transition of Professionals Moving to Rural Locales....Pages 213-225
Organizational Role Differentiation and Individual Propensity for Role Changes....Pages 227-237
Transitions in Jobs, Occupational Socialization and Strain....Pages 239-252
Stress, Strain, and Social Support During a Role Transition....Pages 253-262
Job Loss, Unemployment and Psychological Well-Being....Pages 263-285
Front Matter....Pages 287-288
Construing the Transition to Parent Role as a Constructive Process....Pages 289-300
Front Matter....Pages 287-288
The Transition to a Parent-Caring Role by Adult Children....Pages 301-314
Divorce as a Dual Transition: Interpersonal Loss and Role Restructuring....Pages 315-329
Retirement as a Process of Active Role Transition....Pages 331-341
Front Matter....Pages 343-343
Managing Transitional Strain: Strategies and Intervention Techniques....Pages 345-355
Back Matter....Pages 257-371
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