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Manifest functions are the intended and recognized outcomes of a social phenomenon. Latent functions are the unintended, unrecognized consequences of a social phenomenon. Manysocial institutionshave both manifest and latent functions.Both manifest and latent functions can be positive or negative. Negative functions are considered “dysfunctional” to society as a whole, even if they benefit select groups.Many, if not most, institutions have both latent and manifest functions. Consider the institution of slavery during the Atlantic Slave trade.On a larger and graver societal level, the manifest function of slavery was to increase the economic productivity of the Americas but had the latent function of providing a vast underclass that served to increase the social status of southern whites, both rich and poor.
Manifest functions are the intended and recognized outcomes of a social phenomenon. Latent functions are the unintended, unrecognized consequences of a social phenomenon. Manysocial institutionshave both manifest and latent functions.
Both manifest and latent functions can be positive or negative. Negative functions are considered “dysfunctional” to society as a whole, even if they benefit select groups.
Many, if not most, institutions have both latent and manifest functions. Consider the institution of slavery during the Atlantic Slave trade.
On a larger and graver societal level, the manifest function of slavery was to increase the economic productivity of the Americas but had the latent function of providing a vast underclass that served to increase the social status of southern whites, both rich and poor.
Cell phones have several manifest functions that are intended and recognized – they allow us to easily communicate, access information, take photos, and more. But cell phones also have latent functions that are unintended and unobserved at first. For example, they provide a sense of security, act as status symbols, enable constant connectivity that has impacted workplace norms and friend interactions, and have led to distracted driving and walking – impacts that were not originally intended functions of this technology.
Social Structure and Social Functions
Social structures are complex relationships and systems that organize and regulate interpersonal phenomena in a group or society.
The social structure of a group includes its norms and roles and the status, attraction, and communication relations that link one member to another.
The social structure of a society includes the complex of relations among its constituent individuals, groups, institutions, customs,mores, and so on.
However, the first sociologist to unearth and differentiate between the exact functions that these institutions serve was Robert Merton. Merton defined two main categories of social functions: manifest and latent (Merton, 2016).
Robert Merton’s Theory
American sociologist Robert K. Merton laid out his theory of manifest function (and latent function and dysfunction too) in his 1949 bookSocial Theory and Social Structure.
Functionalism is a sociological perspective that emphasizes the role of social institutions in promoting stability and order in society. According to functionalists, all actions and social structures serve some purpose, even if that purpose is not immediately apparent.
Manifest Functions
The term manifest function refers to the anticipated and intended goals of an action or social structure. More casually, this means the reason why something is done.
Manifest functions can apply to any object or institution, so long as they are officially codified or stated in some way.
For example, the manifest function of cell phones is to allow mobile communication between people, the manifest function of clothing is to protect the wearer from the elements, and the manifest function of a wedding is the public acknowledgment of union between two or more people which legitimates sexual activity and subsequent children.
Manifest functions are important because they help individuals and groups to achieve their goals. They tend to be consciously and deliberately intended to produce beneficial outcomes, and thus can be used as a way of justifying the continued existence of an institution (Merton, 2016).
Latent Functions
Latent functions are just one type of unanticipated consequence, which are notable in that they are functional for the designated system. He specified that there can also be unintentional consequences that are dysfunctional, and those that act neither functionally nor dysfunctionally. Sociologists call the first of these latent dysfunctions (Merton, 2016).
For example, the latent function of cell phones may be to provide a distraction from boredom, the latent function of clothing may be to attract mates, and the latent function of a wedding may be to provide an opportunity for extended families to socialize.
Latent functions are important because they can often have more influence on behavior than manifest functions, as people are often unaware, and thus less likely to be able to stop or control them (Merton, 1949).
manifest functions of education
The first manifest function of education is socialization, which refers to the process of learning thenorms and valuesof one”s culture. This is done primarily through the family, but schools also play a role. Socialization prepares individuals to participate in society (Elster, 1990).
Social controlrefers to the ways in which education instills values that support the status quo and social order. Social control ensures that people conform to societal expectations and do not challenge the established power structure.
The third manifest function of education is social placement. This refers to the ways in which education sorts individuals into different roles.
Fourthly, education transmits culture. Culture includes the values, beliefs, and norms of a group of people. Education teaches individuals about their own culture as well as the cultures of others.
The fifth manifest function of education is promoting social and political integration. Education brings people together and helps them to understand and appreciate diversity. It also teaches people how to participate in society.
Finally, education is an agent of change. It can challenge existing beliefs and promote new ideas.
manifest functions of religion
The manifest function of religion is to provide a set of beliefs and practices that give meaning to life. This includes providing a sense of purpose, teaching morality, and offering comfort in times of trouble.
manifest functions of family
There are several manifest functions of the family. The first is procreation, which is the biological process of reproduction. The family is responsible for producing and raising children.
The second manifest function of the family is socialization. This refers to the process of learning the norms and values of one’s culture. The family is primarily responsible forsocializing children, but schools and other institutions also play a role. Socialization prepares individuals to participate in society.
Finally, the family serves as a unit of consumption. Families often purchase goods and services together, which helps to support the economy (Elster, 1990).
manifest functions of media
The media has several manifest functions. The first is to provide information. The media gathers and disseminates information about current events, trends, and issues.
The second manifest function of the media is to entertain. The media provides entertainment through television, movies, music, and other forms of art.
The third manifest function of the media is to provide a public forum. The media provides a platform for discussion and debate on various topics. It also allows people to share their opinions and ideas with a wider audience.
Fourthly, the media can act as a check on government power. The media can investigate and report on government actions, which helps to ensure accountability.
manifest functions of healthcare
Healthcare and health clubs have several manifest functions. The first is to promote physical health. Healthcare provides services and facilities that help people to maintain their physical health.
This includes preventive care, such as immunizations, as well as treatment for illnesses and injuries. Health clubs provide opportunities for people to exercise and stay fit.
The second manifest function of healthcare is to promote mental health. Healthcare provides services that help people to maintain their mental health. This includes counseling, therapy, and medication. Health clubs also provide opportunities for people to relax and destress.
Finally, healthcare can provide social support through the provision of services, such as home healthcare and hospice care. This can help people to feel connected and supported during difficult times (Elster, 1990).
manifest functions of government
latent function for family
In addition to a number of manifest functions, the family promotes adherence to social norms and the selection of one”s role in society, as well as shaping one”s political beliefs and attitudes toward those from outside the family.
Historically, the family has also served as a unit of labor. Children may work at a family’s business, providing economic benefit (Elster, 1990).
latent function for school
The first latent function of education is creating a common language. People from different backgrounds communicate with each other when they are taught the same language. The second latent function of education is providing a sense of community.
Education brings people together and helps them to feel like they belong to something larger than themselves. Thirdly, education develops critical thinking skills. This is important because it allows people to question the status quo and to think for themselves (Elster, 1990).
Finally, education promotes social mobility, allowing people who have obtained it to achieve greater social status (Javier et al., 2002). However, education can also promote social inequality. This is because some people have access to better education than others.
Those of higher social class can send their children to private schools that groom children to conform to the social behaviors of the elites, while those in underfunded school systems can be trapped in a cycle of poverty and crime.
latent function of religion
Latent functions of religion include instilling values, providing community, and promoting social cohesion (Durkheim, 2005).
The second latent function of religion is providing meaning in life. This is important because it helps people to make sense of the world and their place in it. Religion also helps people to deal with difficult life events, such as death and loss.
latent functions of the media
The media can serve many unintentional or latent functions. One is providing a distraction from everyday problems. This can help people to forget their troubles and to focus on something else.
The media can also serve as a source of entertainment. This can help people to relax and to enjoy themselves. Additionally, the media can provide information about new products and services. This can help people to make informed choices about what they buy.
This can lead to people making ill-informed decisions and lead to, for example, political polarization in the public (Elster, 1990).
latent functions of healthcare
Besides the manifest function of keeping people healthy, healthcare also has several latent functions. These include providing employment, promoting social cohesion, and acting as a safety net.
On the flip side, these latent functions can have negative consequences. Healthcare can be a strain on the economy, and it can promote dependency.
Additionally, healthcare can be used as a tool for perpetuating inequality. Expensive and inaccessible healthcare, for example, can create divides in life expectancy and quality of life along the lines of social class (Elster, 1990).
latent functions of government
Another latent function of government is promoting social cohesion. This means that the government brings people together and helps them to feel like they belong to something larger than themselves. One example of a government creating social cohesion is through patriotism.
Finally, the government can act as a safety net. This means that it provides help for those who need it, such as the unemployed or the sick. Governments can step in during natural disasters and economic recessions, providing support for areas and people who do not have resources.
While these functions can have positive effects, they can also have negative consequences. For example, social control can lead to oppression, and the safety net can promote dependency (Elster, 1990).
Dysfunction: When Latent Functions Do Harm
Latent functions are inherently unintentional, and these unintentional consequences can be either beneficial (functional) for a system as a whole or detrimental (dysfunctional) to it. These effects are often not immediately apparent, which can make it difficult to tell whether a latent function is actually functional ordysfunctional.
One example of a latent dysfunction is when the media only presents one side of an issue. This can lead to people making ill-informed decisions and lead to, for example, violent actions in response to a biased presentation of an issue.
This can be dysfunctional for both the media outlet itself — which may garner a harmed reputation — as well as the target of the backlash and the media industry as a whole.
An unscrupulous government, for example, may use reports of bias in the media as justification for taking over or heavily influencing all media outlets, leading to a reduced ability for people to scrutinize the government and express themselves through media (Elster, 1990).
Merton pointed out that a structure may be dysfunctional for the system as a whole yet may continue to exist. For example, many sociologists argue that while discrimination against black people, females, and other minority groups is dysfunctional for society, it continues to exist because it is functional for a part of the social system.
For example, wage discrimination against females is generally functional and beneficial for males, who tend to earn higher wages as a result (Elster, 1990).
References
Cole, N. L. (2020).Manifest Function, Latent Function, and Dysfunction in Sociology.
Durkheim, E. (2005).Suicide: A study in sociology. Routledge.
Elster, J. (1990). Merton’s functionalism and the unintended consequences of action.Robert K. Merton. Consensus and Controversy, 129-135.
Helm, P. (1971). Manifest and latent functions.The Philosophical Quarterly (1950-), 21(82), 51-60.
Javier, G. (2017). Putting social rights at risk: Assessing the impact of education market reforms in Chile.In Privatization and the education of marginalized children(pp. 143-160). Routledge.
Merton, R. K., & Merton, R. C. (1968).Social theory and social structure. Simon and Schuster.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Charlotte NickersonResearch Assistant at Harvard UniversityUndergraduate at Harvard UniversityCharlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.
Charlotte NickersonResearch Assistant at Harvard UniversityUndergraduate at Harvard University
Charlotte Nickerson
Research Assistant at Harvard University
Undergraduate at Harvard University
Charlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.
