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In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes that are not the ones foreseen and intended by a purposeful action. The term was popularised in the twentieth century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton.〔(Robert K. Merton, Versatile Sociologist and Father of the Focus Group, Dies at 92 ), Michael T. Kaufman, ''The New York Times''〕 Unintended consequences can be grouped into three types: * ''Unexpected benefit'': A positive, unexpected benefit (also referred to as luck, serendipity or a windfall). * ''Unexpected drawback'': 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). * ''Perverse result'': A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse). This is sometimes referred to as 'backfire'. ==History== The idea of ''unintended consequences'' or accidents dates back at least to John Locke who discussed the unintended consequences of interest rate regulation in his letter to Sir John Somers, Member of Parliament.〔Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest and the Raising the Value of Money, available at https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/economics/locke/part1.htm〕 The idea was also discussed by Adam Smith, the Scottish Enlightenment, and consequentialism (judging by results).〔 Adam Smith (''The Theory of Moral Sentiments'' ) p. 93.〕 However, it was the sociologist Robert K. Merton who popularized this concept in the twentieth century.〔〔(Renowned Columbia Sociologist and National Medal of Science Winner Robert K. Merton Dies at 92 ) Columbia News〕〔(Robert K. Merton Remembered ) Footnotes, American Sociological Association〕〔 In his 1936 paper, "The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action", Merton tried to apply a systematic analysis to the problem of unintended consequences of deliberate acts intended to cause social change. He emphasized that his term "purposive action... (exclusively ) concerned with 'conduct' as distinct from 'behavior.' That is, with action that involves motives and consequently a choice between various alternatives". Merton also stated that "no blanket statement categorically affirming or denying the practical feasibility of ''all'' social planning is warranted." More recently, the ''law of unintended consequences'' has come to be used as an adage or idiomatic warning that an intervention in a complex system tends to create unanticipated and often undesirable outcomes.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=HeinOnline )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=HeinOnline )〕 Akin to Murphy's law, it is commonly used as a wry or humorous warning against the hubristic belief that humans can fully control the world around them. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Unintended consequences」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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