Social ecology, a term originally coined by Murray Bookchin, is commonly defined as the study of the relationships between humans and their social and natural environments. However, there are several other phrases that can be used as synonyms for social ecology, including social-ecological systems, human-environment interactions, and ecological anthropology. Each of these phrases highlights a slightly different aspect of the field, with social-ecological systems emphasizing the interdependence of social and ecological systems, human-environment interactions emphasizing the reciprocal interactions between humans and their environment, and ecological anthropology emphasizing the cultural dimensions of environmental issues. Regardless of the specific terminology used, the essential idea remains the same: understanding and improving the relationships between humans and the world around us.