Manifest and Latent Functions: Culture

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CULTURE
CLASSIC
10 Manifest and Latent
CONTEMPORARY Functions
ROBERT K. MERTON
CROSS-CULTURAL
Robert Merton made a major contribution to structural-functional theory by pointing out

that social patterns have both manifest and latent functions. Manifest functions are those
consequences that are familiar, planned, and generally recognized. Latent functions, on
the other hand, are unfamiliar, unplanned, and widely overlooked. For this reason, Mer-
ton argued, comprehending latent functions is a special responsibility of sociologists.
Merton illustrates this process by offering observations about the pattern of conspicuous
consumption.
. . . Armed with the concept of latent function, intellectual contributions of the sociologist are
the sociologist extends his inquiry in those very found primarily in the study of unintended con-
directions which promise most for the theoretic sequences (among which are latent functions) of
development of the discipline. He examines the social practices, as well as in the study of antici-
familiar (or planned) social practice to ascertain pated consequences (among which are manifest
the latent, and hence generally unrecognized, functions).
functions (as well, of course, as the manifest
functions). He considers, for example, the conse- [Illustration]: The Pattern of Conspicuous
quences of the new wage plan for, say, the trade Consumption. The manifest purpose of buying
union in which the workers are organized or the consumption goods is, of course, the satisfaction
consequences of a propaganda program, not of the needs for which these goods are explicitly
only for increasing its avowed purpose of stir- designed. Thus, automobiles are obviously in-
ring up patriotic fervor, but also for making tended to provide a certain kind of transporta-
large numbers of people reluctant to speak their tion; candles, to provide light; choice articles of
minds when they differ with official policies, food to provide sustenance; rare art products to
etc. In short, it is suggested that the distinctive provide aesthetic pleasure. Since these products
do have these uses, it was largely assumed that
these encompass the range of socially significant
Source: Reprinted with the permission of The Free Press, a functions. Veblen indeed suggests that this was
Division of Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, from ordinarily the prevailing view (in the pre-Veblenian
Social Theory and Social Structure, revised and enlarged edi-
tion by Robert K. Merton. Copyright © 1967, 1968 by Robert era, of course): “The end of acquisition and ac-
K. Merton. cumulation is conventionally held to be the
40
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Reading 10 Manifest and Latent Functions 41
consumption of the goods accumulated. . . . This direct, manifest functions do not fully account for
is at least felt to be the economically legitimate the prevailing patterns of consumption. Otherwise
end of acquisition, which alone it is incumbent put, if the latent functions of status-enhancement
on the theory to take account of.”1 or status-reaffirmation were removed from the
However, says Veblen in effect, as sociologists patterns of conspicuous consumption, these pat-
we must go on to consider the latent functions of terns would undergo severe changes of a sort
acquisition, accumulation, and consumption, and which the “conventional” economist could not
these latent functions are remote indeed from the foresee.
manifest functions. “But, it is only when taken in
a sense of far removed from its naive meaning
CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS
[i.e., manifest function] that the consumption of
goods can be said to afford the incentive from 1. Why, according to Merton, is the study of la-
which accumulation invariably proceeds.” And tent functions one of the important tasks of soci-
among these latent functions, which help explain ologists?
the persistence and the social location of the pat- 2. Distinguish between the manifest and latent
tern of conspicuous consumption, is [the fact functions of owning designer clothing, a fine car,
that] . . . it results in a heightening or reaffirma- or a large home.
tion of social status. 3. According to Thorstein Veblen, whom Merton
The Veblenian paradox is that people buy ex- cites in his analysis, does the higher cost of vari-
pensive goods not so much because they are su- ous goods typically reflect their higher quality?
Why or why not?
perior but because they are expensive. For it is
the latent equation (“costliness = mark of higher 4. Identify some of the manifest and latent func-
tions of (a) a primary school spelling bee,
social status”) which he singles out in his func-
(b) sports, and (c) attending college.
tional analysis, rather than the manifest equation
(“costliness = excellence of the goods”). Not that
he denies manifest functions any place in but- NOTE
tressing the pattern of conspicuous consumption. 1. Thorstein Veblen, Theory of the Leisure Class (1899)
These, too, are operative. . . . It is only that these (New York: Vanguard Press, 1928), p. 25.

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Robert Merton made a major contribution to structural-functional theory by pointing out

Reading 10 Manifest and Latent Functions 41

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