#socialization

#socialization

Sociologist Talcott Parsons observed that social institutions have two functions: the written "manifest" function and the unwritten "latent" function. In many cases, the latent function is as important, if not more so, than the official function. One of the best examples of this can be found in the realm of public education. Its manifest function is to help students acquire literacy, reasoning, and academic skills. Its latent function is to help students acquire the behaviors needed to function in a complex social world.

"I think more and more we are really understanding the extent to which social behavior influences animals' lives," says Adelaide Abraham, a PhD student at the University of Oxford and first author of the study. "It's hugely, hugely important."

A newly released report from ezCater surveyed 1,000 U.S. employees who work in an office setting and remotely. It found that 80% of employees feel more engaged at work when they have friends at the office.

Puzzle toys and treat-dispensing games engage a dog’s brain and reduce anxiety, providing a distraction that prevents boredom and destructive behaviors when alone.