Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

From I to WE: How Music Trigger Human Social Identity

Yi TaoBeijing Normal University· Hong Kong Baptist University United International College Pengpeng ChangCentral Conservatory of Music*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

From the perspective of evolutionary psychology, the social function of music is widely recognized. To explore the background, condition, and causes in the process of music triggering individual social identity, based on the review of previous literature, this paper proposes three main mechanisms: emotional resonance, physiological activation, and interactive exchange. Three paths respectively: first, music makes people share common emotions, and then feel a sense of belonging in a specific social group; second, people perceive music can bring a consistent physiological response and reach group synchronization; third, people's participation in a music work that to be completed is like a hypothetical N-person switching system, and can build social bonds with others. In general, this paper argues that music can trigger social identity through the above three interactive mechanisms, and provide more clues about the connection between social identity’s foundation and the music field, expanding to larger impacts, results, and possible use.

Keywords: Music; social identity; evolutionary psychology; mechanism
Published: June 9, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2024.23642
Volume: CHR Vol.70
pp. 221-225
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