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Aggression Against Police Officers and Behavior Toward Citizens: Reciprocal Influence or Common Causes?
Lisa van Reemst1,2,3, Tamar Fischer3, Frank Weerman2,3
1Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 11, 2022
Summary
Police aggression experiences impact officer behavior towards citizens, including patience and use of force. While common factors partially explain this link, the relationship persists, suggesting deeper connections beyond shared causes.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Police officers frequently face citizen aggression, impacting their well-being and public safety.
- Understanding factors influencing police behavior is crucial for effective law enforcement and community relations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between police officers' experiences of aggression and their subsequent behavior towards citizens.
- To examine two explanations for this relationship: reciprocal influence versus common underlying causes.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal survey was conducted with a sample of 693 police officers.
- Data collected included experiences of aggression, patience with citizens, and use of force.
Main Results:
- Police officers' experiences of aggression were significantly related to their patience and use of force.
- The association remained significant even after controlling for socio-demographic and work-related factors, though it decreased.
- No direct evidence supported a reciprocal influence between aggression experiences and citizen-directed behavior.
Conclusions:
- Experiences of aggression by police officers are linked to their behavior, such as patience and use of force.
- This link is not solely explained by common factors, indicating a more complex relationship.
- Further research is needed to explore the nuances of this interaction and develop targeted interventions.
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