According to Malthusian theory, what is the outcome of unchecked population growth?

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Prepare for the MCAT Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Malthusian theory posits that populations grow exponentially, whereas food supply increases arithmetically. If population growth is left unchecked, it will ultimately outpace the available resources, leading to inevitable crises such as starvation, disease, and conflict. In this context, the statement about starvation being inevitable due to geometric increases in population captures the essence of Malthus's argument that a growing population will outstrip its means of subsistence unless corrective factors—such as famine, disease, or war—intervene to reduce the population back to sustainable levels. This explains why the outcome of unchecked population growth, according to Malthusian theory, results in starvation, as human populations cannot consistently increase their food supply at a rate fast enough to match exponential population growth.