proximal environment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proximal environment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to psychology, ecology, or any field discussing the immediate surroundings or influences affecting an individual or organism. Example: "The child's behavior is significantly influenced by their proximal environment, including family dynamics and peer interactions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The relaxation mechanism of these T1-agents highlights their sensitivity towards the proximal environment.

Coordination Chemistry Reviews

Four major receptor families enable cells to respond to chemical and physical signals from their proximal environment.

Cell

We report the existence of an entorhinal cell type that fires when an animal is close to the borders of the proximal environment.

Science Magazine

Predicted HSC are selected based on an enrichment of specific amino-acid types within their proximal environment (supplementary Fig. S5).

Plosone

Development in individual agents' ability during evolution to access the right objects implies that during evolution there may be some development in the neural representation of the environment that can be measured as an increase in the mutual information between the neural state of the agents and their proximal environment.

Plosone

Introducing this concept evokes a role for maturation influencing sensitivity to the proximal environment over the child and adolescent years.

Development and Psychopathology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The analysis of the palynological diagrams clearly indicates that the upper interval corresponds to open sea neritic sediments, deposited in more distal sedimentary environments than those of the lower interval, which were deposited in more proximal environments.

Geobios

Structures at rather distal levels—such as cultural values and societal structures as well as the parents' work life do not have a direct impact on children's development but are linked to the more proximal environments and thereby exert their influence indirectly.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

In particular, episymbioses and horizontally transmitted endosymbioses, in which symbionts are acquired from the proximal environments of habitats in their larval and adult stages in each generation, would be expected to be more strongly affected by the energy states of chemolithotrophic symbiont metabolisms than vertically transmitted endosymbioses.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Moreover, proximal environments such as Home Chaos may be easier to adjust than distal environments such as SES.

Behavior Genetics

The family environment is recognized as one of the proximal environments where socialization and development take place.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of external factors, clearly define the boundaries of the "proximal environment" to avoid ambiguity. Specify whether you're referring to physical space, social dynamics, or a combination thereof.

Common error

Avoid using "proximate environment" interchangeably with "proximal environment". While both relate to closeness, "proximate" often implies direct causation or the next event in a sequence, whereas "proximal" focuses on the immediate surroundings or context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proximal environment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the immediate surroundings or influencing factors of a particular entity or process, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proximal environment" is a grammatically sound noun phrase, denoting the immediate surroundings or context influencing a subject, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not exceedingly common, it finds frequent use in scientific and academic discourse. Ludwig AI also suggests that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the boundaries of the environment you're describing to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "immediate surroundings" or "nearby environment" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediate surroundings

Focuses on the spatial closeness and direct contact of the environment.

nearby environment

Emphasizes the close physical proximity of the environment.

adjacent environment

Highlights the environment that is directly next to or bordering something.

local surroundings

Refers to the environment within a limited or specific area.

vicinal environment

A more formal term indicating the environment in the immediate vicinity.

surrounding milieu

Uses a more sophisticated term ("milieu") to refer to the general environment.

immediate context

Shifts the focus from the physical environment to the contextual factors that are closest and most relevant.

close surroundings

Highlights the environment that is intimately close to something.

proximate setting

Uses "setting" instead of "environment" but keeps the meaning very similar.

ambient conditions

Focuses on the environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, or light, in the immediate area.

FAQs

How is "proximal environment" used in research?

In research, "proximal environment" describes the immediate surroundings or conditions that directly influence a subject or phenomenon. This can include factors like family dynamics, local climate, or immediate physical space. It helps researchers focus on the most direct influences when studying complex interactions.

What's the difference between "proximal environment" and distal factors?

While "proximal environment" refers to immediate surroundings and direct influences, distal factors are more distant or indirect influences. For example, a child's school is part of their proximal environment, while socioeconomic policies affecting education are distal factors.

What are some examples of a "proximal environment"?

Examples of a "proximal environment" include the area immediately surrounding a cell in biological research, the home environment for child development studies, or the immediate habitat of an organism in ecological studies. The key is that it's the environment closest to the subject of interest.

What can I say instead of "proximal environment"?

You can use alternatives like "immediate surroundings", "nearby environment", or "local context" depending on the specific context you're describing.