"Geography is the study of human beings and environment where nature is supreme that dictates the lifestyle of human beings." Identify the geographical approach referred to in this statement from the following.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Environmental Determinism
In the early stages, technology was very low, and people had to follow the dictates of nature. They listened to nature, feared its fury and worshipped it. This idea, that nature controls human life, is environmental determinism.
Option (1) Possibilism — Incorrect. Possibilism is the opposite idea. With better technology, people use the opportunities nature offers and create possibilities, so nature is not supreme.
Option (2) Environmental Determinism — Correct. Nature is supreme and dictates the lifestyle of human beings: this is the core of determinism.
Option (3) Behaviouralism — Incorrect. The behavioural school stresses lived experience and how different social groups perceive space, not the control of nature.
Option (4) Humanism — Incorrect. The humanistic (welfare) school deals with the social well-being of people, such as housing, health and education.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 27-05-2023 (Slot 1).
NCERT (2026-27): “Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature … In the early stages of their interaction with their natural environment humans were greatly influenced by it. They adapted to the dictates of Nature. This is so because the level of technology was very low and the stage of human social development was also primitive. This type of interaction between primitive human society and strong forces of nature was termed as environmental determinism.” |