The extant literature on reference group influence in consumer behaviour has established the powerful nature of this social phenomenon. The current study was designed to expand this discussion by introducing role theory as an analytical tool. It is argued here that reference groups are imagined audiences that influence the actor via role expectations,role learning,role skill and role location. By engaging consumer to elicit role rehearsal narratives in a study on consumer identity projects,one is able to better understand the audience-actor, or reference group-individual dynamic