Step 1: Define Environmental Determinism. Environmental determinism (or determinism in geography) is a school of thought which states that the physical environment, including climate, terrain, and natural resources, is the primary and dominant force in shaping human cultures, societies, and development.
Step 2: Identify the key component. According to this theory, human actions and characteristics are determined by the natural environment. Therefore, the natural component is considered the most important, active agent, while the human component is seen as passive and reactive to nature's influence.