Moral motives, police legitimacy and acceptance of force
Policing: An International Journal
ISSN: 1363-951X
Article publication date: 22 August 2020
Issue publication date: 10 October 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This study extends legitimacy theory by examining individualizing and binding moral motives and perceptions of police.
Design/methodology/approach
Data are drawn from an online survey of the public (N = 961). OLS regression is used to predict global perceptions of legitimacy, as well as department legitimacy and acceptance of force in an experimental vignette that manipulates procedural justice.
Findings
The binding moral motive is associated with greater global and department legitimacy and acceptance of force. The individualizing moral motive is associated with reduced global legitimacy and acceptance of force, and with department legitimacy when procedural justice is low. Perceptions of legitimacy mediate the effects of the binding moral motive on acceptance of force and of the individualizing moral motive when procedural justice is low.
Research limitations/implications
This study identifies novel antecedents of police legitimacy and acceptance of force (i.e. binding and individualizing moral motives).
Social implications
This study provides insight into public attitudes regarding use of force.
Originality/value
This study is the first to propose and test a link between binding and individualizing moral motives and perceptions of police.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Justin Pickett and the other members of her dissertation committee (Rob Worden, Cindy Najdowski, and Greg Pogarsky) for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts of this article.Funding: UAlbany Dissertation Research Fellowship Awards Program. There is no funding to report.
Citation
Silver, J.R. (2020), "Moral motives, police legitimacy and acceptance of force", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 43 No. 5, pp. 799-815. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-04-2020-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited