A client is extremely upset because her 14-year-old son is not helping around the house, independently doing his homework, or arriving to school on time. The son states that his mother watches over him too closely and does not give him needed privacy. This problem is best understood as _________.

Role discomplementarity occurs when role expectations are not being met and activities associated with these expectations are not carried out in an expected manner. In this case vignette, the client’s belief about what her son should be doing is not consistent with his behavior. In addition, the son is dissatisfied with the fulfillment of the role expectations that he has for his mother. This case vignette solely involves role issues and not communication, discipline, or developmental problems.