Paradox, illogicality, contradictoriness—these ate words not often mentioned in psychology. Role theory, however, does provide a possible frame for accommodating paradox in that it does not attempt to objectivize human experience; and it views events and actions as equivocal. It is through a recognition of multivalence that role theory makes its primary contribution to psychology, speaking, as it does, in equi- and multi-vocalizations.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BatesonG.Steps to an ecology of mind. New York: Chandler, 1972.
2.
FreudS.Die Traumdeutung. Leipzig: Franz Deuticke, 1900. [The interpretation of dreams, standard edition. London: Hogarth Press & The Institute of Psychoanalysis, 1953. Vols. IV and V.]
3.
JungC. G.Psychologie und Alchemie. Zurich: Rascher Verlag, 1944. [Psychology and alchemy, Collected Works. Princeton: Univer. Press. 1953, 1968. Vol. 12.]
4.
JungC. G.Mysterium Coniunctionis, Untersuchung ueber die Trennung and Zusammensetzung der seelischen Gegensatze in der Alchemie: Parts I and IL Zurich: Rascher Verlag, 1955, 1956. [Mysterium Coniunctionis, collected works. Princeton: Univer. Press, 1963, 1970. Vol. 14.]
5.
SarbinT. R.Role theory. In LindzeyG. (Ed.), Handbook of social psychology. Vol. 1. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1954. Pp. 223–258.
6.
SarbinT. R.AllenV. L.Role theory. In LindzeyG.AronsonE. (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology. Vol. 1. (2nd ed.) Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1968. Pp. 488–567.
7.
SarbinT. R.JuhaszJ. B.Social context of hallucinations. In SiegelR. K.WestL. J. (Eds.), Hallucinations: behavior, experience, theory. New York: Wiley, 1975. Pp. 241–256.