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

本研究试图通过跨学科的视角，结合身份融合的概念和身份叙事研究，探讨在线回音室对身份融合的影响。在认知人类学、社会心理学和传播学研究领域现有研究的基础上，其目标是分析共同焦虑症在极端主义在线社区内身份融合方面的作用。为此，我建议使用三层方法开发和测试一组假设，包括语言分析、民族志研究和对激进个人的采访。从心理学实验和社会学研究，到在线极端主义论坛上的语言分析和叙事研究，关于数字空间激进化的研究内容丰富且不断增长。尽管有广泛的研究旨在了解个人和群体如何在数字空间采取极端态度和行为，但在线身份融合是否以及如何在在线极端主义论坛上进行仍然是一个谜。到目前为止，还没有对新兴数字回音室中的身份形成与激进化之间的关系进行系统分析。因此，这项研究项目试图通过探索数字时代身份融合的驱动因素和表现形式来填补这一空白。该项目的总体目标是在数字空间中与身份形成、群体内和群体外思维以及激进化相关的问题上取得进展。除了有助于填补与网络激进化和线上-线下极端主义联系相关的学术空白外，这一研究项目还可以为寻求理解、预防和打击网络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.