ABSTRACT

This paper examines how U.S. adults define police use-of-force and what these understandings of police violence mean for police–civilian interactions. Our findings show that public attitude is split between pro- and anti-law enforcement stances. Pro-law enforcement individuals see use-of-force as something that is part of the job for police officers, associate the term with positive emotions, and give the benefit of the doubt to police officers while engaging in victim blaming. Anti-law enforcement individuals associate the term with negative emotions, weapon imagery, injustice, racial bias, abuse of power, and harm or death. Young, democratic-leaning, lower socio-economic status individuals with prior police contact are most likely to express anti-law enforcement attitudes. Using communication accommodation theory, we recommend police officers adapt their communication to be more accommodating to the needs, concerns, and fears of civilians, particularly marginalized individuals. This approach may help create more accommodating, less violent police–civilian interactions.

摘要

本文研究了美国成年人如何定义警察使用武力，以及这些对警察暴力的理解对警察与平民的互动意味着什么。我们的研究结果表明，公众的态度在支持和反对执法立场之间存在分歧。支持执法的人将使用武力视为警察工作的一部分，将这个词与积极情绪联系起来，并在指责受害者的同时让警察怀疑。反执法者将这个词与负面情绪、武器图像、不公正、种族偏见、滥用权力以及伤害或死亡联系起来。与警方有过接触的年轻、民主倾向、社会经济地位较低的人最有可能表达反执法的态度。运用沟通适应理论，我们建议警察调整他们的沟通方式，以更适应平民，特别是边缘化个人的需求、关切和恐惧。这种方法可能有助于创造更包容、更少暴力的警民互动。