What is a major source of person-role conflict?

A major source of person-role conflict arises when individuals are faced with situations where they are asked to take actions or adopt roles that contradict their personal values or beliefs. When a person is expected to behave in a way that conflicts with their own ethical standards or moral convictions, it creates significant internal turmoil. This mismatch can lead to feelings of stress, dissatisfaction, and disconnection from their work or role, as they struggle to reconcile their personal principles with the demands of their role.

For instance, if an employee believes in honesty and integrity but is pressured to deceive clients or misreport facts, they can experience a profound sense of conflict. This type of pressure undermines their personal value system, leading to a sense of dissonance that can diminish motivation and engagement in their work.

In contrast, while disagreements among group members, unclear expectations from leadership, and unbalanced participation in tasks can all lead to conflict within a team or affect overall team dynamics, they do not typically invoke the same level of personal turmoil that person-role conflict does. These issues are more about inter-group relationships or role clarity rather than a direct confrontation with one’s own ethical or moral framework.