The Environmental Determinist Approach to Cultural Ecology Still Appears in Casual

question 16

Essay

The environmental determinist approach to cultural ecology still appears in casual conversation, as well as in news media and in scholarly studies. In your observations of home, work, school, and government actions, what evidence have you seen of the persistence of environmental determinism? In contrast, where or in what contexts have you seen evidence of possibilist approaches to cultural ecology?

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Definitions:

Maslow

Pertains to Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs.

Being Needs

Fundamental aspects of human motivation and personality related to self-actualization, such as creativity, problem-solving, and acceptance of facts.

Deprivation Motivation

A drive that emerges from a lack of critical psychological or physical needs, leading to behaviors aimed at fulfilling those deficits.

Persistent Motive

A long-standing desire or drive that consistently influences behavior over time.