environmental determinism

[ en-vahy-ruhn-muhn-tl di-tur-muh-niz-uhm, -vahy ern- ]

/ ɛnˌvaɪ rənˈmən tl dɪˈtɜr məˌnɪz əm, -ˌvaɪ ərn- /

Sociology.

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noun

a doctrine that considers environmental conditions to be the determining factor in the development of an individual, society, or culture:Advocates and reformers, using a doctrine of environmental determinism, argued that reforming a degraded built environment would reform its residents.Proponents of environmental determinism would suggest that differences in the education and career aspirations of boys and girls are determined by external socializing forces.Compare economic determinism, geographical determinism.

sometimes used to mean geographical determinism.

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Origin of environmental determinism

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby environmental determinism

environment, environmental, environmental art, environmental audit, environmental design, environmental determinism, Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Health Service, environmentalism, environmentalist, environmental medicine