Manifest and latent functions are as theorized by Robert Merton in his 1968 book “Manifest and Latent functions”, designed to help us understand the “conscious motivations for social behavior and its objective consequences,” ( Lethanh et al., 2015 ). Simply put manifest functions are those that we expect from social actions and institutions. A great example is when a person breaks the law. It results in their incarceration and if found guilty imprisonment where they are expected to reform from their previous ways.
Latent functions on the other hand are those unexpected and not deliberate. In the same example, the law-breaker will only be deemed as such if the community unites and acts in solidarity to speak against his/her actions. Thus the latent function becomes the unity of the community against a common enemy. In the case of manufacturers producing new lines of footwear the manifest functions can be seen as the increase in athletic performance and the growth in profits for the manufacturer. The beneficiaries of increased athletic performance are the athletes that use the product and are consequently able to run faster, longer or better due to the manufacturers actions. Also there is an expected growth in profits to the manufacturer because the newer and more expensive shoes will have a greater demand as more people desire to have them.
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On the other hand, the latent functions of newer footwear can include the growth of a community of people that love these different shoes. The feeling of association and belonging that an individual receives as a result of having these shoes and being seen by others that also have them can be argued as a non-deliberate consequence. Another unexpected outcome can be an increase in violence in communities (Bain, 2015). When a newer more expensive shoe is produced and sold many people want to have it but cannot always afford it. Sports Illustrated magazine reported in 1990 that a young man was killed over his new sneakers.
References
Bain, M. (2015) “1,200 people are killed each year over sneakers” Retrieved from https://qz.com/554784/1200-people-are-killed-each-year-over-sneakers/
Lethanh, N., Adey, B. T., & Fernando, D. N. (2015). Optimal intervention strategies for multiple objects affected by manifest and latent deterioration processes. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering , 11 (3), 389-401.
