Talk:Role model

Phil Gould
This article was cited by Phil Gould in the Sun Herald on August 13, 2006 in Footballers are people, not saints. Andjam 01:20, 22 August 2006 (UTC)


 * For reference: the article as it was at that time. --Hugh Charles Parker (talk - contribs) 21:09, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

Rewrite
This article had most of its text taken out. I wasn't prepared to reinstate most of it, though - it was all unsourced, and was a collection of descriptions of its common usage, rather than an encyclopedia article. I've re-written it. I hope it's OK. --Hugh Charles Parker (talk - contribs) 16:30, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

being a role model is not an easy task. it plays a vital in an individual. a role model must posses the charater that shows positive behavior. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.65.218.6 (talk) 22:11, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

A review of the pdf linked and cited as (1) reveals that while 'role model' as a phrase was first seen during Merton's time (likely 1930-50) the phrasing (on page 514) is "Central for Merton’s understanding of social groups were social roles. The term “role model” first appeared in a Columbia study of the socialization of medical students, and was to become wildly popular. Merton emphasized that, rather than assuming one status and one role, a person has a status set in the social structure to which is attached a whole role-set of expected behavior—and that, within those sets, ambiguities, incompatibilities, and conflicts almost inevitably lurk."

Thus, based on this writing, it is not at all clear that Merton coined the phrase "role model." The text emphasizing rather that he expanded/built on the concept. Without a direct citation of the Columbia study mentioned, we don't know when this phrase first appeared or even if Merton was directly involved at all.

Drive By Intellectual, 2/11/09, 3:47pm eastern —Preceding unsigned comment added by 160.36.211.136 (talk) 20:48, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Term invention date?
This article seems to imply that the term "role model" was invented in 2004. Surely that is incorrect. Could Merton's original article be cited here?UMinnAstro (talk) 09:31, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

That's it?
Considering how everyone has taken to forcing celebrities to be role models, I'm really surprised that this article doesn't mention that at all. It only mentions physicians as being role models for their patients, something I think is not widely known or given much thought in comparison to celebrities. Wh ip it ! Now whip it good! 03:28, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

I agree. I was shocked to see that no celebrity names where mentioned, or even talked about. Kkscarbro (talk) 19:26, 19 November 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't think that it would be helpful to provide celebrity names in this article - I don't see how that would help anyone understand what a role model is. --Hugh Charles Parker (talk - contribs) 13:31, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

Would it be helpful to provide examples or perhaps links to pages with role model listings? This entry currently is hardly more than a mere dictionary entry. 91.89.140.48 (talk) 03:15, 23 June 2010 (UTC)


 * No, I don't think so. This is an encyclopedia, so we need to be defining and describing what a role model is, what Merton meant, how the term is used, etc.  To list individuals currently seen as role models doesn't serve that aim.  I agree the article could do with expanding, though, if someone reading this knows Merton's work well, or is willing to read up.  --Hugh Charles Parker (talk - contribs) 16:46, 23 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I agree with Hugh Charles Parker - unless somebody has an interesting study about, say, a certain celebrity and in which way s/he is or has been a role model, that can be used as a reference.  Lova Falk     talk   16:10, 24 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Added information on role models of British school children, according to their teachers. User:Fred Bauder Talk 15:12, 21 February 2011 (UTC)

That this page is dominated by a list of examples from one country reduces its encyclopedic value. Main focus should be what does the term mean, how has it evolved, and what sorts of claims have been made about role models (and what has research done to support or refute these claims. Nothing wrong with some examples, but that should not be the main meat and potatoes of the article, IMHO. --Dan Ryan (talk) 19:33, 6 February 2012 (UTC)
 * I agree. I'd even go further - I'm not sure how it helps the article to give examples of particular individuals who might be considered role models.  Comments, anyone, or should Dan go ahead and fix it?  --Hugh Charles Parker (talk - contribs) 20:12, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

Can a nation be a role model?
This article only discusses individual role model. What about a nation or country? A company? A group of people? And more? Benjasmine (talk) 13:49, 2 January 2015 (UTC)

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Emulated vs immitated?
The first sentence of the article says: "person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others". Is it really emulated that is meant here? Or shouldn't it be "immitated" instead? The meaning a quite opposite I guess. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:861:44C3:23D0:75BA:366:B14E:9445 (talk) 10:21, 5 September 2023 (UTC)

,importants. Of having arole model 41.114.239.216 (talk) 08:56, 22 September 2023 (UTC)