Final answer:
The notion that people from warmer regions are less active is an application of environmental determinism, a view that was popular in the early 20th century but is now recognized as ethnocentric bias and cultural stereotyping.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that people from warm tropical areas are slower and lazier than people from cooler areas is one extreme application of environmental determinism. Intellectual figures like Ellen Churchill Semple and Ellsworth Huntington were proponents of this perspective in the early 20th century, suggesting that geographical and climatic conditions directly dictate the capabilities and behaviors of societies. These ideas were grounded in assumptions that climates could inherently produce 'inferior' or 'superior' peoples, reflecting a bias that is evident today as a form of ethnocentric bias or cultural stereotyping.
Allen's rule is an ecogeographic observation regarding adaptations of animals in different climates, emphasizing the influence of environment on biological traits, but it is critical not to extend this to prejudiced assumptions about human populations. What these early theorists failed to consider is the vast complexity of human culture, society, and individual agency, which cannot be simply categorized according to environmental factors.
Indeed, geography teaches us about patterns like diffusion and the impact of the environment on human settlements, but it also warns against oversimplified theories that underestimate human diversity and the socio-cultural dynamics at play. Understanding these nuances helps us recognize stereotypes and the dangers of applying outdated, discriminatory thinking to contemporary global challenges.