1. Meaning of Role: A role in the dynamic or the behavioural aspect of status. Status is occupied, but roles are played. We may say that a status is an institutionalised role. It. is a role that has become regularised; standardised and formalised in the society at large or in any of the specific associations of society.

II. Different kinds of Role:

1. Ascribed role: A role-pattern emphasizes "performance" if one pays particular attention to what the occupant can do and how well he can do it, relatively regardless of his age, sex and group memberships. Linton makes distinction between "ascribed" and "achieved" roles. A role is said to be "ascribed" if its occupants acquire it automatically as a result of certain objective characteristics or relations to others which are beyond their control. The most important bases of ascription are birth in a particular family, birth order, sex and age.

A role that an individual acquires automatically at birth, or on the attainment of a certain age.

2. Achieved roles: The most universally ascribed role is one's sex role, male and female. Different age levels are also associated with different expectations. Roles based on one's birth as a member of particular racial, caste or religious groups are ascribed. Thus, in these types of roles, birth is the basic influence, for example traditionally speaking being born in a certain caste will imply certain role behaviours as a priest's son will train to be a priest.

Technically any role is said to be "achieved" if it is not "ascribed". A role that an individual has because he has either chosen or earned it. It is the result of his efforts and his actions. Thus, roles, which are gained by personal efforts, are known as achieved roles such as a general in the army, doctor or an engineer and so on.