Apart from unique characteristics of galaxies at birth, a lifetime of different  environments ("isolation", group, cluster) can also shape
their main features. In this context, a crucial step to understand galaxy evolution is to learn more  about the specific role played by each of those environments, (hopefully)  disentangling it from the effect of 'internal' physical processes.

In this talk, I will present the results of controlled simulations aimed to study the impact of group environments on the evolution of disc galaxies. Specifically, I will show the key role of the global tidal field,  the smaller-than-expected contribution of close-encounters between galaxies,  and how indirect interactions with other group members can actually help preserve
some properties of a galaxy. I will also present a parallel study highlighting the caution to be kept when using analytical prescriptions of merger timescales of galaxies based on either controlled or cosmological simulations.