Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Dimensions of Health and Illness

Dimensions of Health and Illness

The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.

Impact of Social Context on Individuals

Impact of Social Context on Individuals

Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...

Microenvironments

Microenvironments

Microorganisms inhabit highly localized spaces known as microenvironments, which are defined by distinct physical and chemical characteristics. These include oxygen concentration, pH, temperature, light availability, and nutrient levels. The conditions within a microenvironment can differ markedly from those in the surrounding area and significantly influence microbial growth, metabolism, and community structure.Microenvironments often display sharp physicochemical gradients over small spatial...

What is Climate?

What is Climate?

Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...

The Role of Culture

The Role of Culture

Culture plays a crucial role in shaping self-identity and influencing thought and behavior, a foundational interest within social psychology. The multicultural perspective recognizes that individuals do not exist in a vacuum; instead, their experiences, perceptions, and actions are deeply influenced by the intersecting dimensions of their cultural, ethnic, and social group affiliations.Cultural Influence on Self-Identity and Social PerceptionCultural frameworks inform how individuals define...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Critical perspectives on historical collapse.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2012

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

An Integrated Micro-Device System for Coral Growth and Monitoring

An Integrated Micro-Device System for Coral Growth and Monitoring

Published on: July 21, 2023

Collapse, environment, and society.

Karl W Butzer¹

¹Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. karl.butzer@austin.utexas.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|February 29, 2012

Summary

Ancient state collapses offer lessons for sustainability. Resilience, not just stressors, is key to understanding societal devolution and reconstruction for modern challenges.

Area of Science:

Social-ecological systems
Historical sociology
Sustainability science

Background:

Ancient state collapses offer insights into social-ecological dynamics and sustainability.
Examining five Old World case studies to understand collapse triggers and feedbacks.

Observation:

Societal collapse is typically multicausal, involving political simplification, militarization, and acute stressors like environmental or economic crises.
Demographic decline often accompanies or follows state breakdown.

Findings:

Resilience, encompassing environmental, political, and sociocultural factors, is crucial in mitigating collapse damage and facilitating reconstruction.
Historical models require adaptation for contemporary sustainability, considering cumulative information and popular participation.

More Related Videos

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

An Integrated Micro-Device System for Coral Growth and Monitoring

An Integrated Micro-Device System for Coral Growth and Monitoring

Published on: July 21, 2023

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

Implications:

Western Europe's response to crises (14th-18th centuries) demonstrates decentralized, flexible innovation for adaptation.
Effective sustainability strategies depend on identified options, understanding, solidarity, leadership, and participation, countering simplistic alarmist narratives.