Unintended consequences
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
(Difference between revisions)
| Revision as of 21:17, 26 June 2013 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 20:55, 25 August 2013 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
| * A negative, unexpected detriment occurring in addition to the desired effect of the policy (e.g., while [[irrigation]] schemes provide people with water for agriculture, they can increase waterborne diseases that have devastating health effects, such as [[schistosomiasis]]). | * A negative, unexpected detriment occurring in addition to the desired effect of the policy (e.g., while [[irrigation]] schemes provide people with water for agriculture, they can increase waterborne diseases that have devastating health effects, such as [[schistosomiasis]]). | ||
| * A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse) | * A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse) | ||
| - | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * [[Boomerang effect (psychology)]] | * [[Boomerang effect (psychology)]] | ||
| + | * [[Cobra effect]] | ||
| * [[Relevance paradox]] | * [[Relevance paradox]] | ||
| * [[Side effect]] | * [[Side effect]] | ||
Revision as of 20:55, 25 August 2013
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes that are not the ones intended by a purposeful action. The concept has long existed but was named and popularised in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton.
Unintended consequences can be roughly grouped into three types:
- A positive, unexpected benefit (usually referred to as luck, serendipity or a windfall).
- A negative, unexpected detriment occurring in addition to the desired effect of the policy (e.g., while irrigation schemes provide people with water for agriculture, they can increase waterborne diseases that have devastating health effects, such as schistosomiasis).
- A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse)
See also
- Boomerang effect (psychology)
- Cobra effect
- Relevance paradox
- Side effect
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Unintended consequences" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
