Cyberbullying has emerged as one of the most pervasive forms of online aggression,
threatening adolescents' psychological well-being and social adjustment in the digital age.
As technology increasingly mediates interactions, understanding the motivations and
psychosocial underpinnings of cyberbullying perpetrators has become essential. Prior
studies have primarily emphasized victimization outcomes, yet comparatively less
attention has been directed toward the perpetrator's perspective and the complex
psychosocial dynamics that sustain such behaviors. This literature review synthesizes
theoretical and empirical findings to examine the multifaceted factors driving cyberbullying
perpetration. Evidence indicates that individual traits, such as moral disengagement, low
self-regulation, resilience deficits, and emotional states including envy and loneliness,
play a pivotal role in shaping online aggression. In addition, family dynamics, peer norms,
and broader sociocultural contexts either reinforce or mitigate these behaviors, while
overlaps between traditional bullying and cyberbullying underscore cumulative risks for
adolescent mental health. Notably, meta-analyses and systematic reviews reveal that
perpetrators are often simultaneously victims, perpetuating a cycle of aggression and
victimization. Taken together, these findings suggest that cyberbullying perpetration
cannot be reduced to individual pathology, but must be understood within a wider
psychosocial framework. This review underscores the importance of holistic prevention
strategies that integrate individual, familial, and social dimensions, while also pointing to
the need for more longitudinal research on perpetrator motivations.