Common bond and common identity groups on the Internet: Attachment and normative behavior in on-topic and off-topic chats.

Abstract

Friedrich-Schiller-University JenaThe present research is based on D. A. Prentice, D. T. Miller, and J. R. Lightdale’s(1994) distinction between common bond groups (formed by attachment betweengroup members) and common identity groups (formed by attachment to the group as awhole). Study 1 showed the existence of both types of groups on the Internet: On-topicchats can be classified as common identity groups, and off-topic chats as common bondgroups. In Study 2 the adherence to group norms as a behavioral consequence of themembership in both types of groups was analyzed. Members of common identitygroups adhered more to the group norms of paralinguistic symbols than did membersof common bond groups. The implications for the development and persistence ofgroups on the Internet are discussed.