In the last ten years a large number of field studies on undisturbed groups were reported, and an interesting dichotomy began to emerge, because such studies rarely used the 'fundamental' concept of hierarchy in explaining the social organization observed, or occasionally paid lip-service by stating that hierarchy was 'latent', that is, so well established that it was never seen expressed (an idea which is difficult to distinguish from the hierarchy simply not being there).

— The social behaviour of monkeys by Thelma Rowell (Penguin education) (Page 160)