cultural determinism

[ kuhl-cher-uhl di-tur-muh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. Sociology. the doctrine that considers cultural conditions to be the determining factor in the development of an individual, society, or nation. Compare biological determinism ( def ), economic determinism ( def ), environmental determinism ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultural determinism¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

In medical school, training and ongoing clinical practice, there is an emphasis on biological determinism, the false belief that people of different racial and ethnic groups are biologically and genetically different, and cultural determinism, the false belief that differences in health outcomes are the result of people’s different cultural backgrounds and life choices.

From Scientific American