The Influence of Group Psychology on Network Cluster Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model

A survey was conducted involving 2,137 university students from over 10 universities in Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province, and other regions. The data were analyzed using correlation analysis and moderated mediation model testing. This study found that group psychological factors, such as emotional infection, depersonalization, the spiral of silence, relative deprivation, group polarization, and action mobilization, positively predicted network cluster behavior. The action mobilization of opinion leaders mediated the relationship between emotional infection and network cluster behavior. Group polarization mediated the relationship between the spiral of silence and network cluster behavior. Additionally, group efficacy moderated the latter part of the mediation process between group polarization and network cluster behavior.