ANNA RITA CALABR̉

Robert K. Merton, l'ambivalenza strutturale

N. 159

Summary — In a series of essays collected in 1970 in a volume with the title "Sociological ambivalence", Robert Merton defines ambivalence as a characteristic of the structure of social roles. According to the author, in fact, the role behaviour is regulated by norms and counter-norms (namely norms which are opposed to the first ones). The normative contraposition gives rise to a great number of possible behaviours of role contradictory with each other, but all of them equally legitimate and potentially functional. So that the actor can, according to the circumstances, decide on the most fitting strategy to absolve the prescribed tasks set out by the role and attain his purposes. Merton, through a series of examples taken from the professions field, proves how the social actor be continually open, in the course of his role functions, to this double normative ambivalent code because norms and counter-norms are in contrast, interdependent and act with the same efficacy towards the actor. The Mertonian concept of sociological ambivalence, thus defined, does not give decisive answers about the ways through which the social actor avoids the risk of falling, during the action, in the impass of an anxious situation in which contradictory norms might annul the action itself. However, by introducing the ambivalence as a peculiar character of the social action, Merton opens interesting perspectives of theoretical reflection and of empirical research.