Expansion Diffusion: Definition, Examples, and AP Human Geography Applications

📚 Quick Study Guide

🌍 Definition: Expansion diffusion is the spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in a snowballing process. This means the number of those adopting grows continuously larger. 📈 Types: There are three main types of Expansion Diffusion: * Hierarchical Diffusion: 💡 The spread of a trend or feature from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places. * Contagious Diffusion: 🦠 The rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population. * Stimulus Diffusion: 🧠 The spread of an underlying principle, even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse. 🗺️ Examples: * Hierarchical: Fashion trends often start with celebrities or influencers. * Contagious: The spread of a viral video online. * Stimulus: The adaptation of McDonald's menu to fit local tastes in different countries. 🔑 Key Takeaway: Unlike relocation diffusion, expansion diffusion involves the spread of a trend while the origin remains strong and also intensifies.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the best definition of expansion diffusion?
   1. The spread of an idea through physical movement of people.
   2. The spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in a snowballing process.
   3. The decline of a feature or trend among people from one area to another.
   4. The relocation of an entire culture to a new location.
2. A fashion trend that starts with celebrities and spreads to the general population is an example of:
   1. Contagious diffusion
   2. Relocation diffusion
   3. Hierarchical diffusion
   4. Stimulus diffusion
3. The rapid spread of a disease through a population is an example of:
   1. Hierarchical diffusion
   2. Contagious diffusion
   3. Relocation diffusion
   4. Stimulus diffusion
4. The spread of an underlying principle, even though the characteristic itself fails to diffuse, is:
   1. Contagious diffusion
   2. Hierarchical diffusion
   3. Stimulus diffusion
   4. Relocation diffusion
5. McDonald's adapting its menu to fit local tastes in different countries is an example of:
   1. Relocation diffusion
   2. Hierarchical diffusion
   3. Contagious diffusion
   4. Stimulus diffusion
6. Which type of diffusion sees the origin remaining strong and intensifying?
   1. Relocation diffusion
   2. Expansion diffusion
   3. Reverse diffusion
   4. Migration diffusion
7. The internet's role in spreading memes globally is primarily an example of which type of diffusion?
   1. Hierarchical Diffusion
   2. Relocation Diffusion
   3. Contagious Diffusion
   4. Stimulus Diffusion