Identity Fusion in Virtual Groups: The Impact of Shared Dysphoric Experiences in Global Echo Chambers on Online Radicalisation

本研究项目旨在通过跨学科的视角，结合身份融合的概念和身份的叙事研究，探索在线回声室对身份融合的影响。基于认知人类学、社会心理学和传播学领域的现有研究，其目标是分析极端主义在线社区中共享焦虑对身份融合的作用。为此，我建议采用三层方法开发和测试一系列假设，包括语言分析、人种学研究和激进个人访谈。关于数字空间激进化的研究越来越多，从心理学实验和社会学研究，到语言分析和在线极端主义论坛的叙事研究，都有涉及。尽管有广泛的研究旨在了解个人和群体如何在数字空间中采取极端态度和行为，但在线身份融合是否以及如何在极端主义在线论坛中发生的问题仍然是一个谜。迄今为止，还没有对新兴数字回音室中身份形成与激进化之间的关系进行系统分析。因此，本研究项目试图通过探索数字领域身份融合的驱动因素和表现来填补这一空白。该项目的总体目标是在与身份形成、群体内和群体外思维以及数字空间中的激进化相关的问题上取得进展。除了有助于填补与在线激进化研究和线上-线下极端主义联系相关的学术空白之外，该研究项目还可以为寻求理解、预防和打击在线激进化的政策制定者、社交媒体公司和一线从业者提供有价值的见解。

This research project seeks to explore the impact of online echo chambers on identity fusion through an interdisciplinary lens, combining the concept of identity fusion and narrative research on identity. Building on existing research from the fields of cognitive anthropology, social psychology and communication studies, its goal is to analyse the role of shared dysphoria on identity fusion within extremist online communities. For this purpose, I propose to develop and test a set of hypotheses using a three-layered approach that encompasses linguistic analysis, ethnographic research and interviews with radicalised individuals. There is a rich and growing body of research on radicalisation in the digital space, spanning from psychological experiments and sociological studies to linguistic analyses and narrative research in online extremist forums. Despite a wide range of studies aiming to understand how individuals and groups adopt extreme attitudes and behaviours in the digital space, the question whether and how online identity fusion takes place in extremist forums online remains an enigma. To date, there is no systematic analysis of the relationship between identity formation within emerging digital echo chambers and radicalisation. This research project therefore seeks to fill this gap by exploring the drivers and manifestations of identity fusion in the digital arena.The overall aim of the project is to make progress on questions related to identity formation, in-group and out-group thinking and radicalisation in the digital space. Beyond its contribution to filling academic gaps related to the study of online radicalisation and the online-offline extremism nexus, this research project could also provide valuable insights for policymakers, social media companies and frontline practitioners seeking to understand, prevent and combat online radicalisation.