The study from Michigan State University, led by doctoral student Keara Werth with Associate Professor Joe Hamm, asked people about three psychological factors that might explain fear of police. It used survey data from participants with different racial and political backgrounds and was published in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.
The three factors were control (whether people feel able to influence what happens), likelihood (how likely they think unjustified harm by police is), and severity (how serious they expect any harm to be). Researchers found that perceptions of likelihood and severity best explained fear. Fearful people tended to believe officers were likely to harm them and that the harm would be severe. The study did not find a strong connection between fear and a person’s sense of control, and the authors call for better ways to measure control during police contacts.
The researchers note demographic patterns seen in earlier work: Black/African American individuals often report the greatest fear of being killed by law enforcement, and pro-police attitudes tend to be higher among Republicans than Democrats. In this study the factors tied to fear were somewhat stronger among white participants, but overall patterns were similar across groups. The authors recommend training and tactics to help officers recognize threats while avoiding actions or weapons that escalate encounters, and they stress that building trust requires consistent words and actions. They also suggest ways to help people learn deescalation or lawful ways to avoid unjustified harm.
Difficult words
- perception — an idea or belief about somethingperceptions
- likelihood — how probable something is to happen
- severity — how serious or bad something is
- unjustified — not allowed or not based on good reason
- deescalation — actions to reduce danger or tension
- demographic — relating to population groups and characteristics
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think training that avoids escalation could build trust between police and communities? Why or why not?
- How might perceptions of likelihood or severity of harm change how people act during police contacts?
- What are some ways people could learn deescalation or lawful ways to avoid unjustified harm in your community?
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