Environmental Determinism vs. Possibilism

Flashcards about Environmental Determinism and Possibilism

Environmental Determinism

Landforms and climate are the most powerful forces shaping human behavior and societal development; the environment determines human behavior and development.

Possibilism

People have the ability to adjust to their environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives in the physical environment; humans have the possibility to change the hand they were dealt.

Example of Environmental Determinism

-Temperature climates are more conductive to better life in farming

-Coastal countries produce great navigators and fishers

Examples of possiblism

-Live in Las Vegas with temperature well over 100 degrees, invention of AC and modern advancements in irrigation technology for farming has made living in the climate far less difficult