Reciprocal determinism is a concept in psychology first introduced by Albert Bandura in his Social Learning Theory of 1977. This concept states that a person’s behavior is the result of influence from three sources: the person’s own thoughts and feelings; the behavior of other people; and the immediate environment. According to this concept, each of these three influences are interrelated and impact each other. This is referred to as “reciprocal determinism”, and is often summarized with the phrase “the person, the environment, and the behavior”.

In simpler terms, reciprocal determinism is the idea that a person’s behavior is a result of the simultaneous influences of the person, environment, and their behavior – each influencing and being influenced by each other in a continuous cycle. This concept suggests that the environment can shape behavior, individuals can influence their own behaviors, and their own behaviors can shape the environment or situation around them.

This concept is useful for understanding how behavior is shaped by both internal and external factors, which can help inform strategies for helping individuals achieve their goals. It is important to note that reciprocal determinism is not a causal relationship – there is no one single factor that determines a person’s behavior – but rather that all of these factors interact with each other to shape behavior.

In summary, reciprocal determinism is the concept that explains how a person’s behavior is shaped by the simultaneous influences of self, environment, and behavior. This concept suggests that all three factors can influence each other, and that understanding interactions between these three sources can provide valuable information on how to help individuals achieve their goals.