What is the area of study concerned with the interrelationships between people and their spatial setting and physical environment?

The area of study that focuses on the interrelationships between people and their spatial settings and physical environment is human ecology. Human ecology examines how social factors, such as culture, community, and institutions, interact with the environment to influence behaviors, lifestyles, and societal developments. This field blends both ecological and sociological perspectives, revealing the dynamic interplay between human populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.

In contrast, sociology primarily deals with social behavior, relationships, and structures but does not specifically emphasize the physical environment's influence. Human geography focuses more on spatial aspects and the way humans affect and are affected by geographical space, but it is not as concerned with the direct interactions between societal factors and ecological systems. Environmental science, while it does study the interactions between humans and the environment, typically emphasizes the scientific and policy aspects of environmental issues rather than the social dimensions inherent in human ecology. Thus, human ecology is best suited to address the complexities of how humans relate to their environments.