10 Questions
Environmental Sociology emerged in the 19th century as a subfield of inquiry, challenging the limitations of classical sociology
False
Environmental sociologists primarily focus on economic factors as the dominant cause of social and cultural conditions
False
The Malthusian perspective views population growth as humanity's greatest challenge, with agricultural production able to keep pace
False
Human Exemptionalism Perspective (HEP) claims humans are exempt from environmental forces, with intelligence and cultural innovation allowing us to solve all natural problems
True
Eco-Marxist Perspective argues that economic systems, like capitalism, prioritize economic growth over environmental concerns, leading to severe environmental degradation
True
Environmental sociology is the sociological study of societal-environmental interactions, focusing on the relationship between society and environment.
True
Charles Darwin's concept of natural selection suggested that certain social characteristics played a key role in the survivability of groups in the natural environment.
True
Environmental sociologists typically do not place special emphasis on studying the social factors that cause environmental problems.
False
Evolutionary principles, particularly adaptability, serve as a microcosm of human ecology according to the work of Craig Humphrey and Frederick Buttel.
True
Environmental sociology does not pay considerable attention to the social processes by which certain environmental conditions become socially defined as problems.
False
Study Notes
- Sociology developed as a scholarly discipline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on social and cultural factors as the dominant cause of social and cultural conditions.
- Environmental Sociology emerged in the 1970s as a subfield of inquiry, challenging the limitations of classical sociology and advocating for a holistic, systems perspective.
- Environmental sociologists study society-environment interactions, such as environmental movements, perceptions of environmental problems, health and population issues, and globalization.
- They use standard sociological research methods, like surveys, interviews, and observation, and analyze data to draw conclusions about environmental behaviors and suggest potential solutions.
- Some specific topics include analyzing social processes leading to environmental degradation, studying social factors causing environmental problems, and evaluating environmental justice issues.
- The Malthusian perspective, originating from Thomas Malthus, views population growth as humanity's greatest challenge, with agricultural production unable to keep pace.
- Human Exemptionalism Perspective (HEP) claims humans are exempt from environmental forces, with intelligence and cultural innovation allowing us to solve all natural problems.
- The New Environmental Perspective (NEP) recognizes the importance of social and cultural forces while acknowledging the natural environment's finite resources, imposing constraints on human activity.
- Eco-Marxist Perspective argues destructive economic systems, like capitalism, prioritize economic growth over environmental concerns, leading to severe environmental degradation.
- Ecological Modernization Perspective believes economic systems, particularly capitalism, will eventually evolve into sustainable systems, but only after significant environmental damage has occurred.
Explore the sociological study of societal-environmental interactions and the relationship between human cultures and the environment. Learn about the social factors that contribute to environmental problems.
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