Date of Award
Spring 6-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department/Program
Forensic Psychology
Language
English
First Advisor or Mentor
Preeti Chauhan
Abstract
Little is known about how police officer demeanor impacts citizen compliance under specific conditions such as the severity of a crime. Using a sample of 141 college students, we randomly assigned vignettes that manipulated crime severity type (e.g., petty theft or armed robbery) and police officer demeanor (e.g., procedurally just or not procedurally just) to gain a better understanding of this nuanced relationship. Participants were more likely to report suspicious behavior, regardless of crime severity, if the officer demeanor was procedurally just. Additionally, participants were more likely to consent to a search and report a suspicious person in the procedurally just with a severe crime condition when compared to the less procedurally just with a less severe crime condition. There were no significant relationships between crime severity, officer demeanor, and participant's likelihood of providing identification to the officer. The results of this study show the significance of implementing policing strategies that foster aspects of procedural justice, as it may be beneficial for the police in receiving compliance and assistance from the public.
Recommended Citation
Sharma, Shiny, "Procedural Justice and Citizen Compliance: Police Officer Demeanor and Crime Severity" (2017). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_etds/24