Group specialists define role conflict as:

• A. Tension between two group members who have assumed different roles.
• B. A discrepancy between the way a member is expected to behave and the way he or she actually behaves.
• C. Tension between the group leader and a group member.
• D. Members criticizing other members between group sessions.

Answer: (B)

Role conflict arises when there is a mismatch between what a person is expected to do in their role and how they actually behave. In group work, this internal tension occurs when role expectations pull a member in competing directions or when the behavior tied to a role doesn’t align with the person’s actions. The option that describes a discrepancy between expected behavior and actual behavior best captures this dynamic, because it focuses on the internal clash a person experiences as they try to meet role demands. The other scenarios describe conflicts between people or general group process issues rather than the mismatch between role expectations and behavior.