A primitively Role Adaptive individual, who is, as an "A," is socially imitative and interpersonally responsive. He is inherently sensitive to social situations, capable of evaluating the complex interactions which they involve both rapidly and accurately, and skillful in identifying and adopting appropriate roles within them. An "A" has little difficulty in adjusting to the various demands which his culture makes of him. He appears to learn social requirements readily, and in a manner which is Role Adaptive and pleasing to his parents from the very beginning, to his teachers later on, and, still later, to his contemporaries. He is versatile in role-playing, and shifts from one role to another without effort, as the situation demands. He adapts to and reflects the culture from which he emerges, and experiences considerable cultural approval as a result.
The term "Role Adaptive," as it is used by the theory,
refers to what the individual appears to be, rather than to what he is. The role-playing adaptability of the "A" enables him to function smoothly in the various social roles which are required of him, creating the impression that he has learned and understood them. However, Role Adaptive, as such, has little to do with understanding. In fact, the development of an "A" depends, to a great extent, on the relationship between his skill in role-playing, which is a function of his acceptability, and his ability to understand the roles, which is determined by other components of his total personality organization. Role Adaptive of itself, provides a kind of social skill which is not necessarily related to the individual's ability to live up to the favorable impression which he makes.
A primary problem for an "A" is the fact that others are attracted to him, and generally want to be involved with him, to an extent which may be quite disproportionate to his own preferences. Further, he is usually placed under great pressure to live up to an idealized concept of himself which he has unintentionally engendered. An "A" attracts people very positively, leading him quickly and directly into social relationships based on high interpersonal expectations. It is quite possible, however, that the expectations which Role Adaptive arouse are quite unrealistic.
The inherent social adeptness of an "A" may also make him appear to possess a degree of empathic awareness which the individual does not actually have. The "A," then, is likely to be placed under persistent demands, because he appears to be something that he is not. His initial social asset may then become an actual liability. Those who were strongly attracted to him at the beginning, may easily become punitive when they discover, on more extensive contact that he fails to provide them with the needed satisfactions which they had expected of him.
Failure of the "A" to live up to the demands of others often leads to environmental rejection and hostility. He may become hostile himself in return, and tend to withdraw from social contacts. If he is an Externalizer, withdrawal is usually temporary, and the period of Interpersonal hostility relatively brief. He may, for example, develop into an aggressive, combative adolescent, whose need to relate will again regain dominance as he approaches maturity.
The Internalizer, on the other hand, is particularly likely to react against the interpersonal involvements which Role Adaptive fosters, and to respond to the continued pressure by trying to escape. His self-sufficiency is threatened by the constant demands that he live up to the impression of social promise which his social facility creates. He discovers, too, that interpersonal demands tend to increase the longer he remains in one environment, as a discrepancy between what he promises in the social-interpersonal sphere and what he actually gives becomes more and more apparent.
Frequent environmental changes, in general, are easily accomplished by a primitive "A," and often serve as a practical solution for his special problems. In a new setting, he can live for a while on the strength of his highly favorable first impression. He can gain acceptance in a new community very quickly. It is not until more exacting demands are made that the environment becomes threatening to him. Knowing that he gets along best in the initial stages of social situations and interpersonal involvements, he learns to move on before the environment becomes over-demanding and harmful to his own psychological equilibrium.
While the ability to shift roles is an inherent "A" talent, other components of personality structure may hamper the individual's role-flexibility, He may, for example, be a rigid Internalizer, who will not be inclined to shift his role until the majority have accepted and approved the new one. A combination such as "IRA" would result in an individual who uses his role-flexibility to adopt conventional, stereotyped roles effectively, and who can behave acceptably in them. He is also capable of making rapid shifts from one conventionally approved role to another. Such a person is therefore able to get along well on the basis of his surface "A" skills, while avoiding involvements which would be too close for his personal comfort.
Primitive Role Adaptive like other inherent components of personality structure, provides the individual with special areas of awareness, as well as predetermined patterns of response. On the other hand, there are other areas to which the same individual is inherently insensitive, and in which his behavior is "naturally" inept. The predictable pattern of the individual's strengths and weaknesses with regard to the other dimensions is more clear-cut than it is in connection with his Role Adaptive components, because the efficiency of its
utilization depends so heavily on other factors. do Role Adaptive can serve as a good beginning for longstanding interpersonal relationships, or as a means of avoiding lasting involvements. It can be utilized as a facade behind which to hide real feelings, or as an entree into situations in which they can be more fully expressed. It can serve to cover an underlying lack of social and interpersonal insight, or to facilitate deeper understanding without the need to overcome initial misconceptions. The major adjustments which an "A" must make, in the interests of efficient functioning, are to learn how to control his Role Adaptive appropriately, and to develop in the other dimensions of his personality in such a way that he can make the most effective use of his inherent social skills.