Role set

A role set is anyone you have a recurring relationship with in your role. According to Goffman the 'role set' is the various kinds of relevant audiences for a particular role. Merton describes 'role set' as the 'complement of social relationships in which persons are involved because they occupy a particular social status.' For instance, the role of a doctor has a role set comprising colleagues, nurses, patients, hospital administrators, etc. A role set is anyone you have a recurring relationship with in your role. According to Goffman the 'role set' is the various kinds of relevant audiences for a particular role. Merton describes 'role set' as the 'complement of social relationships in which persons are involved because they occupy a particular social status.' For instance, the role of a doctor has a role set comprising colleagues, nurses, patients, hospital administrators, etc. The term 'role set' was coined by Robert K. Merton in 1957. He made a clear distinction between a 'role set' and a 'status set'.