Maria Olivia M.

Mercado
BEED – I/C

MANIFEST FUNCTION
 refers to the intended function of social policies, processes, or actions that
are consciously and deliberately designed to be beneficial in their effect on
society.
 the anticipated and intended goals of an action or social structure; the reason
something is done.

EXAMPLE OF MANIFEST FUNCTION

1. cellphones – allow mobile communication between people
2. clothing – protects the wearer from the elements
3. marriage ceremonies – public acknowledgement of union between two or more
people which legitimates sexual activity and subsequent children
4. schooling – transmits knowledge to the next generation
5. war – defend or claim territory, defeat an enemy

MANIFEST FUNCTIONS
 are a key aspect of functional analysis
 are easily observed
 are often positive, but depending on the subject this distinction is not clear.
One group’s positive outcome, maybe a negative outcome for another group.
 Functions and dysfunctions along with latent and manifest functions were
theorized by Robert Merton (1910-2003) in Social Theory and Social
Structure (1949, revised in 1957 and 1968)

ROBERT MERTON’S THEORY OF MANIFEST FUNCTION

American sociologist Robert K. Merton laid out his theory of manifest
function in his 1949 book Social Theory and Social Structure. The text ranked
the most important sociological book of the 20 th century by the International
Sociological Association, also contains other theories by Merton that made him
famous within the discipline, including the concepts of reference groups and self-
fulfilling prophecy.
As part of his functionalist perspective on society, Merton took a close look
at social actions and their effects and found that manifest functions could be
defined very specifically as the beneficial effects of conscious and deliberate
actions.
Manifest functions stem from all manner of social actions but are most
commonly discussed as outcomes of the work of social institutions like family,
religion, education, and the media, and as the product of social policies, laws,
rules, and norms.
MANIFEST FUNCTION OF A FAMILY
 Refer to the conscious intentions of family
 The basic social unit in society typically consisting of parents and their
children

Robert K. Merton created the idea of manifest and latent functions. He

explains manifest action as “the overt or intended purpose of action”. Just like
most things, family time has these function. In this case the manifest function of
family time is the family being together. In this time a family can enjoy each
other’s company and catch up on each other’s lives. This is very important when
parents are busy with work and children have extracurricular activities pulling
them in all different directions. There has to be some source of connection for the
family. The manifest function is pretty straight forward.

MANIFEST FUNCTION OF A RELIGION

Religion is a cultural universal because it fulfills several basic functions
within human societies. It is a basic requirement of group life. In sociological
terms, these include both manifest and latent functions. Among the manifest (open
and stated) functions of religion are included defining the spiritual world and giving
meaning to the divine.
Functionalist suggest that religion is a requirement for society and individual
both because it serves both manifest and latent functions.

MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION

1. Religion as an Integrative Force
 Durkheim believed that the primary function of religion was to
preserve and solidify society. It functions to reinforce the collective
unity or social solidarity of a group. Sharing the same religion or
religious interpretation of the meaning of life unites people in a
cohesive and building moral order.
2. Creating a Moral Community
 Religion provides a system of beliefs around which people may gather
to belong to something greater than themselves in order to have their
personal beliefs reinforced by the group and its rituals. Those who
share a common ideology develop a collective identity and a sense of
fellowship.
3. Religion as Social Control
 Religious beliefs can influence the conduct of those who believe in
them. It keeps people ‘in line’ through folkways and mores. It provides
a foundation for mores of society. Religious sanctions are sought for
certain desirable patterns of behavior to persist in society in the
forms of mores. Thus, many taboos in various cultures have religious
sanctions, e.g., the taboo against eating of pork in Jewish and Muslims
and cows in Hindus.
MANIFEST FUNCTION OF EDUCATION
Are the open and intended goals or consequences of activities within an
organization or institution.

SIX MAJOR MANIFEST FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION IN SOCIETY

1. Socialization
 From kindergarten through college, schools teach students the
student role, specific academic subjects, and political socialization.
 In the primary and secondary schools, students are taught specific
subject matter appropriate to their age, skill level and previous
education experience.
 In the college level, students focus on more detailed knowledge of
subjects.
2. Social Control
 Schools are responsible for teaching values such as discipline, respect,
obedience, punctuality and perseverance.
 Schools teach conformity by encouraging young people to be good
students, conscientious, future workers, and law-abiding citizens.
3. Social Placement
 Schools are responsible for identifying the most qualified people to
fill available positions in society.
4. Transmitting Culture
 As a social institution, education performs a rather conservable
function – transmitting the dominant culture.
 We learn respect for social control and reverence for established
institutions such as religion, the family, and the government.
5. Promoting Social and Political Integration
 By transforming its population composed of diverse ethnic and
religious groups into a society whose members share – to some extent
at least – a common identity.

6. Agent of Change
 Education can stimulate or bring about desired social change.
 It promotes social change by serving as meeting ground where each
society’s distinctive beliefs and traditions can be shared.

MANIFEST FUNCTION OF THE MEDIA (intended consequences)

 Selling a product
 Making a profit – maintain demand for goods and services essential to the
continued growth of the capitalist economy
 Something for everyone – serve as collective memory of nation, selectively
remembering, forgetting and reconstructing the past.

 The functionalist theory stresses the power of the mass media and the dangers
when it is controlled by a few to manipulate the public opinion.
 Five functional approaches the media serves users
1. Surveillance – that the media provides news and information.
2. Correlation – that the media presents the information to us after they select,
interpret, and criticize it.
3. Transmission – the cultural transmission function means that the media reflects
our own beliefs, values, and norms.
4. Entertainment – media also entertains us in our free time and provides and
escape from everyday life.
5. Mobilization – refers to the media function of promoting society’s interest
especially in times of crisis.