cultural determinism

society

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development of deterministic theories

  • Charles Booth
    In sociology: Cultural theory

    Finally, cultural theories of the 1930s emphasized human ability to innovate, accumulate, and diffuse culture. Heavily influenced by social and cultural anthropology, many sociologists concluded that culture was the most important factor in accounting for its own evolution and that of society. By…

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work of Mead

  • Margaret Mead
    In Margaret Mead: Work and impact

    …clearly indicates her belief in cultural determinism, the theory that human behavior is determined by culture rather than biology. This position led to some of the harshest critiques of her work, most notably those of New Zealand anthropologist Derek Freeman, who cast doubt on the accuracy of her observations and…

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