Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory

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It is widely posited due to contemporary empirical research that the effect of the cyberbullying has caused significant psychological, emotional and social duress for many of its victims (Blair, 2003; Juvonen & Gross, 2008; Patchin & Hinduja, 2006). A myriad of theories have been used to better understand the issue and its implications on victims in a range of settings and moreover ascertaining what conditions cultivates a cyberbully and its connection to social deviance (Anderson & Sturm, 2007; Bandura, 1989; Bandura 1990; Diamanduros, Downs, & Jenkins, 2008). The theoretical framework of this study is based the Social Cognitive Theory. Social Cognitive Theory – Triadic Reciprocal Determinism Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory – Triadic Reciprocal Determinism reviews the transformations people undergo over the course of their lives with primary focus on the changes in the psychosocial functioning of adults as well as those occurring in children in a multidimensional model (Bandura, 1989). The Triadic Reciprocal Determinism model looks at a causation of behaviour from cognition, personal factors and other environmental influences. Despite the fact that such influencing factors may not be of equal strength or having the likelihood of occurring simultaneously, over time a causal factor will begin to exert its influence. Within context of investigating cyberbullying within the college setting, other studies have deemed that a key personal variable which influences