What is the term for conflicting expectations from others that create stress?

The term that describes conflicting expectations from others, leading to stress, is indeed role conflict. This concept occurs when an individual faces demands or expectations that are contradictory, which can stem from various sources such as peers, supervisors, or family. For example, an employee may struggle to meet the expectations from their manager while also trying to satisfy their team members, resulting in feelings of tension and stress.

Understanding role conflict is vital in managing people in organizations because it directly impacts job performance, employee satisfaction, and overall organizational effectiveness. By recognizing the sources of conflict, organizations can work towards providing clearer communication and support, ultimately reducing stress and improving workplace culture.

In contrast, role confusion refers to a lack of clarity about one's responsibilities, which can lead to uncertainty but does not specifically address conflicting expectations. Role clarity focuses on having clear and well-defined expectations, serving as the opposite of role conflict. Role support pertains to the assistance and reinforcement provided by colleagues or supervisors, which helps alleviate conflict rather than contributes to it.