Role play The technique of role play, or acting an improvised or partially improvised part in a simulated situation, can be used in teaching, therapy, and assessment. Police departments, for example, routinely prepare rookies for emergencies by having them play roles, such as an officer confronted by a criminal holding a hostage at gunpoint. Part of the prospective police officer's final exam may be successful performance on a role-playing task. A therapist might use role play to help a feuding couple avoid harm-ful shouting matches and learn more effective methods of conflict resolution. That same couple ร successful resolution of role-played issues may be one of a therapist's cri