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Sociology  /  Soc 0034  ·  Atom · ~20 seconds

Manifest and Latent Functions

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Robert Merton distinguished a manifest function, an institution's intended and recognized effect, from a latent function, an effect that is unintended and largely unrecognized.

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A social app's manifest function is messaging; a latent function is that people use it to date instead.

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Latent does not mean hidden by anyone — merely unplanned, and often more consequential than the plan.