Social Identity and Group Conformity in Virtual Environment

Abstract

This review firstly summarized the past study of social identity and group conformity and states the importance of investigating their relationship in virtual environment. It can help produce better policy to improve the online environment and help people make better decisions when they are facing the norms of their groups. It then explained the relationship through multiple aspects. The first one is the negative influences of social identity and the mechanisms of group conformity related to it, and the review then demonstrated the advantages of social norms in two ways. The review concluded that virtual environment promotes social identity and leads to group conformity, which has both positive and negative effects. The level of conformity can be influenced by several traits of the group and other members. The limitations were discussed, including the homogeneity of the form of the studies and the lack of diversity in nations during the selection of the participants. Lastly, further studies of the influences of cultures and ideologies of the participants’ society and recent moods on the relationship between group conformity and social identity were suggested.