LATENT FUNCTION

A hidden consequence of a social institution

Examples: 
In providing for the support of children, the family helps to maintain social inequality, insofar as wealthy people provide advantages for their children, including education, that poor people may not be able to provide at the same level.

In providing people with meaningful answers to ultimate questions, religion can also serve the function of providing support for the existing political order, with such concepts as “For God and country” or “One nation under God.”