Theory of Personal Behavior, 1979

26 July 1979

Definition: Role. A recognizable pattern of valuations, actions, and communications which form a cohesive whole.

Examples:

SonHusbandFatherGrandfather
BossAdministratorTeacherCommittee member
ArtistThinkerActorArchitect
FriendAdversaryClientBenefactor
GluttonLazy loutDilettantePrevaricator
SaintHigh PriestCounselorPresident
CarpenterPlumberElectricianFarmer

Postulates:

  1. Every normal human being is playing a role at any given time.
  2. Roles are cultural artifacts.
  3. Roles are principally learned through observation and only incidentally through words.
  4. Agency is the choice of an implementation of a role by a responsible person.
  5. Every normal adult chooses among several roles as to which one will be enacted at any given moment.

Gospel Applications:

  1. Normal adults who know and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ are free to act as children of Jesus Christ.
  2. Celestial spirits are those who, when they learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ, learn to reject every role except that of a child of Jesus Christ.
  3. Sin is choosing and enacting any role but that of child of Jesus Christ.