Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions
open-in-new
<h2 id="functions">Functions</h2> <p>Manifest <a href="/facts/Structural_functionalism/4GGGknC3">functions</a> are the consequences that people see, observe or even expect. It is explicitly stated and understood by the participants in the relevant action. The manifest function of a <a href="/facts/Rain_dance/t1XUBLhD">rain dance</a>, according to Merton in his 1957 <i> <a href="/facts/Social_Theory_and_Social_Structure/r0UeU7kP">Social Theory and Social Structure</a></i>, is to produce <a href="/facts/Rain/MLqcQEyx">rain</a>, and this outcome is intended and desired by people participating in the ritual.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>Latent functions are those that are neither recognized nor intended. A latent function of a behavior is not explicitly stated, recognized, or intended by the people involved. Thus, they are identified by observers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> In the example of rain ceremony, the latent function <a href="/facts/Reinforce/bn271VLa">reinforces</a> the <a href="/facts/Group_identity/dSa0XAPR">group identity</a> by providing a regular opportunity for the members of a <a href="/facts/Group_(sociology)/L0Ny3Nv6">group</a> to meet and engage in a common activity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p><a href="/facts/Peter_L._Berger/YnTv7UFX">Peter L. Berger</a> describes a series of examples illustrating the differences between manifest functions and latent dysfunctions: </p> <blockquote><p>"...the “manifest” function of antigambling legislation may be to suppress gambling, its “latent” function to create an illegal empire for the gambling syndicates. Or Christian missions in parts of Africa “manifestly” tried to convert Africans to Christianity, “latently” helped to destroy the indigenous tribal cultures and this provided an important impetus towards rapid social transformation. Or the control of the Communist Party over all sectors of social life in Russia “manifestly” was to assure the continued dominance of the revolutionary ethos, “latently” created a new class of comfortable bureaucrats uncannily bourgeois in its aspirations and increasingly disinclined toward the self-denial of Bolshevik dedication (<i>nomenklatura</i>). Or the “manifest” function of many voluntary associations in America is sociability and public service, the “latent” function to attach status indices to those permitted to belong to such associations.” "<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></p></blockquote> <p>While <a href="/facts/Talcott_Parsons/C8w443Cg">Talcott Parsons</a> tends to emphasize the manifest functions of <a href="/facts/Social_behavior/RJtLfpfE">social behavior</a>, Merton sees attention to latent functions as increasing the understanding of society: the distinction between manifest and latent forces the <a href="/facts/Sociologist/d2Fd0N87">sociologist</a> to go beyond the reasons individuals give for their actions or for the existence of <a href="/facts/Tradition/5qkV7G2A">customs</a> and <a href="/facts/Institution/kGkhGcMN">institutions</a>; it makes them look for other social consequences that allow these practices’ survival and illuminate the way society works. </p> <h2 id="dysfunctions">Dysfunctions</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Dysfunction_(sociology)/4GGGknC3">Dysfunctions</a> can also be manifest or latent. While functions are intended or recognized (manifest), and may have a positive effect on society, dysfunctions are unintended or unrecognized, and have a negative effect on society.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>Manifest dysfunctions are anticipated disruptions of social life. For example, a manifest dysfunction of a <a href="/facts/Festival/JAg4y9fD">festival</a> might include disruptions of transportation and excessive production of garbage.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Latent dysfunctions are unintended and unanticipated disruptions of order and stability. In the festival example, they would be represented by people missing work due to the traffic jam.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Structural_functionalism/4GGGknC3">Structural functionalism</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Unintended_consequences/FeLSTncl">Unintended consequences</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www2.pfeiffer.edu/~lridener/courses/MERTONR1.HTML">MANIFEST AND LATENT FUNCTIONS</a> Extract from Robert K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure. Glencoe, IL: Free Press, 1957, pp. 60 – 69.</li> <li><a href="http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/Asc/MANIFE_FUNCT.html">MANIFEST/LATENT FUNCTION</a>, definition at <a href="/facts/Principia_Cybernetica_Web/L8orQA1g">Principia Cybernetica Web</a></li></ul> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/ecologic.htm">ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORIES: A GUIDE PREPARED BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS Dr. M.D. Murphy</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.diligio.com/notes26.htm">THE UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN ACTION: A Synoposis of the Structure-Functional Theories of Robert K. Merton</a>, Diligio, 2000</li> <li><a href="http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/TheoryWeb/Merton.htm">Merton, Robert K. 1957. Social Theory and Social Structure, revised and enlarged edition. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.</a> Excerpts, selected by Frank Elwell</li> <li><a href="https://www.angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop/manlat.html">Manifest and Latent Functions</a> Excerpt from Invitation to Sociology by <a href="/facts/Peter_L._Berger/YnTv7UFX">Peter L. Berger</a>, pp. 40–41 (NY: Doubleday (Anchor Books), 1963)</li> <li>David B. Brinkerhoff, Suzanne T. Ortega, Rose Weitz, Thomson Wadsworth, 2004, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-534-62676-9, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Y3lawGKZWhcC&dq=manifest+and+latent+dysfunctions&pg=PA12">[1]</a> Google Print, p. 12]</li> <li>Joan Ferrante, <i>Sociology: A Global Perspective</i>, Thomson Wadsworth, 2005, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-495-00561-4, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Idjxdi1IlFAC&dq=manifest+and+latent+dysfunctions&pg=PA37">Google Print, p.37</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Paul_Helm/48QsMaTg">Paul Helm</a>, <i>Manifest and Latent Functions</i>, <a href="/facts/The_Philosophical_Quarterly/uAKxdjAm">The Philosophical Quarterly</a>, Vol. 21, No. 82 (Jan., 1971), pp. 51–60, <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2217569">JSTOR</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Diligio, 2000 <a href="http://www.diligio.com/notes26.htm" target="_blank">http://www.diligio.com/notes26.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Chirico, JoAnn (11 October 2018). Global Problems, Global Solutions: Prospects for a Better World. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-5063-4779-0. <a href="978-1-5063-4779-0" target="_blank">978-1-5063-4779-0</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Merton, Robert K. (15 September 1996). On Social Structure and Science. University of Chicago Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-226-52071-1. <a href="978-0-226-52071-1" target="_blank">978-0-226-52071-1</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Merton, 1957 <a href="http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/TheoryWeb/Merton.htm" target="_blank">http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/TheoryWeb/Merton.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Ecological Anthropology". anthropology.ua.edu. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120729121107/http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php?culture=Ecological%20Anthropology" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120729121107/http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php?culture=Ecological%20Anthropology</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Ecological Anthropology". anthropology.ua.edu. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120729121107/http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php?culture=Ecological%20Anthropology" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120729121107/http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php?culture=Ecological%20Anthropology</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Merton, 1957 <a href="http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/TheoryWeb/Merton.htm" target="_blank">http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/TheoryWeb/Merton.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Chirico, JoAnn (11 October 2018). Global Problems, Global Solutions: Prospects for a Better World. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-5063-4779-0. <a href="978-1-5063-4779-0" target="_blank">978-1-5063-4779-0</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>[Brinkerhoff et al. 2004] <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>[Ferrante, 2005] <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>[Ferrante, 2005] <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>