RECENT TRENDS IN

GEOGRAPHY

Submitted By
Submitted To
Rajdeep Jain
Dr. Rajesh Bhatt
MA (1st Sem)
 Behaviouralism

• It developed due to the reaction of the quantitative and positivist approach, As the
quantitative revolution considered humans as economic rationality, however the
same is not true as per behaviouralism.

•  As per Wolpert's study, optimal farming practice is not done by Swedish

farmers although having very fertile and productive land, they were satisfied
with 60 % productivity.
• Indian farmers also used excess fertilizer that reduces the long-run
productivity of the land.
• From the above two examples, we can say humans are not profit maximizers
but merely satisficers.
Influences in Behavioural Approach

 Herbert Simons concept of man as a satisfier and man not

economic maximiser
 Julian Walport who studies how farmers in Sweden makes
decision and how their expectation from land decide the actual
production of agriculture land.
 It was Julian Walport who is credited to have started the
Behavioural Revolution in Geography.
• The decision of humans is subjective in nature, can not be
quantified as per the quantitative tool.
• As the quantitative revolution reject the role of human values,
belief, culture, etc in decision making, but the reality is
different, the contribution of values, culture, religion in the
human decision can be seen in daily life. For example, a
temple visit is a totally religious decision, not an economic
decision, and vary person to person and this decision can be
subjective in nature.
 Humanism
 Kirk was the first to give humanism view in geography and later Chinese American
geographer, Mr. Y.F. Tuan gave more weight on this approach.

 It is against the quantitative, positivism, and locational analysis approach, as they neglected the role of
religion, ethics, values, personal knowledge, etc.
 Human feeling, values, culture, etc can not be codified in the statistical tool such as map, lines, graph, etc
 Humanism does not consider man as an economic person
 Human is not a machine, they can improve their life by participatory observation, discussions, thinking &
acting.
 Criticism

 Man is not considered a rational person

• It considered humanism is separate geography and supported
to study physical geography and human geography separately,
in reality, the same is not true, man and the environment are
interrelated.  
• This method is more subjective than objective, it is like social
science.
• We do not know the humanistic explanation is true because
can not be objectified.
 Positivism
   Positivism is a philosophical thought, where assertions are
validated by the use of logic, science, maths, facts, etc. Positivism
came into existence after the French revolution(1789), and it
rejects the philosophical thought which is based on emotions and
imagination.

 Positivism thought was developed by Auguste Comte

• No place of religious, cultural belief, if not logically and scientifically
correct. Example:
• Positivism rejects the caste system, untouchability.
• If anyone will proof that the caste system, untouchability is logically
correct under scientific and mathematically than under positivism, it
will be accepted.
• Positivism also rejects women's inferiority, as women's treatment
varies from culture to culture.
• It is based on “Fact speak themselves” Philosophy
• Data and fact analysis are done in each assertion. If you say, Singapore
is a developed country, then positivism’s people do not believe you,
they will check fact & figure on your assertion, then assertion will be
validated.
• Supported simple, easy, and mathematical language 
Criticism : 

• Human feeling, emotional, belief have no place in positivism

•  All the events and facts can not be proved

 Major boost:
• The quantitative revolution is based on positivism. 
 IDEALISM

 Itbelieves all knowledge is ultimately based on

Individual’s objective experience of the world and
comprise mental constructs and ideas. There is no real
world that can be known independently of mind.
 It was given by Harris and Guelke
 Thank You

For Your Attention