1. Law Enforcement Role Analysis
Guide to understanding behavior in Law Enforcement settings

2. Key Assumptions All persons act in reference to expectations
Expectations are integral to social structure
Both “formal” and “informal” patterns of behavior are “expectation based”

3. Key Concepts Position Positional Sector Expectation Role Role Sector
Right
Obligation
Role Behavior

4. Definitions
Position – the location of an actor in system of social relationships
Positional Sector – an element of the relational specification of a position
Expectation – an evaluative standard applied to an incumbent of a position
Role – a set of expectations applied to an incumbent of a particular position

5. Definitions (cont 2)
Role Sector – a set of expectations applied to the relationship of a focal to a single counter position
Right – of an incumbent of a focal position is an expectation applied to the incumbent of a counter position
Obligation – of an incumbent of a focal position is an expectation applied to the incumbent of a focal position

6. Definitions (cont 3)
Role behavior – an actual performance of an incumbent of a position which can be referred to an expectation for an incumbent of that position

7. Dyad

8. Focal Position Counter Position Diagram

9. Position Centric

10. Systemic

11. Role Conflict
Intra-role conflict – perceives that others hold different expectations as the incumbent of a single position – see dyad and position centric
Inter-role conflict – individual perceives that others hold different expectations as the incumbent of two or more positions – see systemic
When an incumbent of a focal position feels that he/she is confronted with incompatible expectations