From I to We: Group formation and linguistic adaption in an online xenophobic forum
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Bäck, Emma A.
Bäck, Hanna
Gustafsson Sendén, Marie
Sikström, Sverker
Abstract / Description
Much of identity formation processes nowadays takes place online, indicating that intergroup differentiation may be found in online communities. This paper focuses on identity formation processes in an open online xenophobic, anti-immigrant, discussion forum. Open discussion forums provide an excellent opportunity to investigate open interactions that may reveal how identity is formed and how individual users are influenced by other users. Using computational text analysis and Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC), our results show that new users change from an individual identification to a group identification over time as indicated by a decrease in the use of “I” and increase in the use of “we”. The analyses also show increased use of “they” indicating intergroup differentiation. Moreover, the linguistic style of new users became more similar to that of the overall forum over time. Further, the emotional content decreased over time. The results indicate that new users on a forum create a collective identity with the other users and adapt to them linguistically.
Keyword(s)
identity formation group formation social adaption linguistic analysis online materialPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2018-03-13
Journal title
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
Volume
6
Issue
1
Page numbers
76–91
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Bäck, E. A., Bäck, H., Gustafsson Sendén, M., & Sikström, S. (2018). From I to We: Group formation and linguistic adaption in an online xenophobic forum. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 6(1), 76–91. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v6i1.741
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jspp.v6i1.741.pdfAdobe PDF - 1.8MBMD5: 0c616c36917b801460bccba0ab1fa59a
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bäck, Emma A.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bäck, Hanna
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Gustafsson Sendén, Marie
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Sikström, Sverker
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-26T12:45:02Z
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Made available on2018-11-26T12:45:02Z
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Date of first publication2018-03-13
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Abstract / DescriptionMuch of identity formation processes nowadays takes place online, indicating that intergroup differentiation may be found in online communities. This paper focuses on identity formation processes in an open online xenophobic, anti-immigrant, discussion forum. Open discussion forums provide an excellent opportunity to investigate open interactions that may reveal how identity is formed and how individual users are influenced by other users. Using computational text analysis and Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC), our results show that new users change from an individual identification to a group identification over time as indicated by a decrease in the use of “I” and increase in the use of “we”. The analyses also show increased use of “they” indicating intergroup differentiation. Moreover, the linguistic style of new users became more similar to that of the overall forum over time. Further, the emotional content decreased over time. The results indicate that new users on a forum create a collective identity with the other users and adapt to them linguistically.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationBäck, E. A., Bäck, H., Gustafsson Sendén, M., & Sikström, S. (2018). From I to We: Group formation and linguistic adaption in an online xenophobic forum. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 6(1), 76–91. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v6i1.741en_US
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ISSN2195-3325
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1461
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1742
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v6i1.741
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Keyword(s)identity formationen_US
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Keyword(s)group formationen_US
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Keyword(s)social adaptionen_US
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Keyword(s)linguistic analysisen_US
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Keyword(s)online materialen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleFrom I to We: Group formation and linguistic adaption in an online xenophobic forumen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue1
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Journal titleJournal of Social and Political Psychology
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Page numbers76–91
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Volume6
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record