Lecture 16Human Ecology TheoryAssumptions1. Individuals and groups are both biological and social in nature. Can’t understand human behavior as either purely biologically determined or as purely socially or environmentally determined.2. Humans are dependent on their environment for survival. The only environments that we can survive in are those that can meet our biological needs (food, water, oxygen, and temperatures in certain ranges).3. Human beings are social and thus are interdependent on other human beings. We need social interaction to be who we are. (We watched a segment of the movie Secrets of a Wild Child). 4. Humans are finite and their life cycle coupled with their biological needs for survival impose time as both a constraint and a resource. Time is a factor in our lives, and we need to take it into account as we try to understand individual and social behavior.5. Human interactions are spatially organized. We have to look at human behavior on a variety of levels. Individuals are organized into families, families- neighborhoods, neighborhoods- communities, and communities- towns.Key ConceptsEcosystems: living organisms interacting with their environments. A family in interaction with in the environment constitutes an ecosystem.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. HDFS 135 1st EditionEnvironmentThe total surroundings of an organism/system (family) including physical, biological, political, social, economic, etc. Families exist in multiple environments.Niches:Patterned or relatively stable set of activities which define a unique place in the ecosystem for a given unit. Provides a function for the unit.NeedsRequirements a family has which must be me if they are going to survive and thrive. Might include love, respect, acceptance as well as physical need (food, water, air, etc.).ValuesHuman concepts of what is good, right and worthwhile. Held on all levels: individual, family, society. Underlying Values in Human ecosystems: Survival and Human Betterment.GoalsSomething an organism is seeking to achieve. Motivating factors for decision making. Goal setting- must access available resources to reach goals.Quality of life, environment:Extent to which basic human needs are met and values realized. Related to satisfaction, adequacy of physical surroundings. Quality of the environment is also important because of its interactive nature wit systems like
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