ABSTRACT
In trying to determine the forces molding human behavior, it is often difficult to ascertain which factors account for individual leaders and their impact. Role theory helps us to understand the process by which some people inspire others to seek new goals, change their profession, assume new objectives or adopt behavior which had previously been socially unacceptable. Because of their role within the social structure as power brokers, charismatic personalities or teachers, these leaders are able to open possibilities and make new modes of behavior socially tolerated or even desirable. Because of their wealth, social position, intellect, office, force of personality or a combination of these they are able to bridge the divide between acceptable and aberrant behavior by convincing a significant number of their contemporaries that positive improvements can result from the behavior patterns they pioneer. Thus it is not surprising that one generation's unique individuals, kooky experimenters or creative innovators are the heroes and role models for their successors. As any parent of a rebellious child who sports a white glove, glitter in the hair or any of the other characteristics of the Michael Jackson Generation can attest, role modeling exists on a variety of levels, for many reasons and with many consequences.
