What Is Reciprocal Determinism?

This theory explores the role our behavior plays in our environment
By Kendra Cherry Updated on May 02, 2021
Fact checked by Cara Lustik
Reciprocal determinism is a central concept of Albert Bandura's social learning
theory. Also known as triadic reciprocality, reciprocal determinism is a model
composed of three factors that influence behavior: the individual (including how
they think and feel), their environment, and the behavior itself.

Previous theories of learning, such as the one put forth by B.F. Skinner argued
that people’s behavior was always controlled by the environment. That people
were nothing more than passive recipients of environmental influences.

But according to Bandura, not only does the environment influence a person’s
thinking, but their subsequent behavior influences their environment. In other
words, the environment influences how a person thinks and feels, which in turn
influences their behavior, which impacts the environment, and so on.

Individuals are neither powerless objects controlled by environmental forces nor

entirely free agents who can do whatever they choose.