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Using Biological Motion to Investigate Perceptual-Cognitive Expertise in Law Enforcement Use-of-Force Decisions.

Monica E Connelly1, Joel Suss1, Lisa Vangsness2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260 USA.

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Police officers’ decisions in ambiguous use-of-force situations depend on suspect motion, not experience. The speed and intent of drawing an object significantly predicted officers’ weapon identification, impacting police performance and training.

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Biological motionDecision-makingExpertisePerceptual–cognitive expertisePoint-light displaysUse-of-force

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Law enforcement decision-making
  • Human-computer interaction

Background:

  • Police decision-making in ambiguous use-of-force situations is critical.
  • Previous research has not explored the impact of suspect biological motion on object identification.
  • Understanding factors influencing these decisions is crucial for improving police performance and reducing errors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of suspect's biological motion in police officers' identification of unknown objects.
  • To determine if motion characteristics (speed, intent) influence officers' decisions in ambiguous use-of-force scenarios.
  • To examine the relationship between law enforcement experience and accuracy in object identification.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized point-light displays to isolate suspect motion, removing confounding visual cues.
  • Participants (N=129, including experienced officers and trainees) viewed videos of actors drawing objects.
  • Assessed participants' ability to identify whether a drawn object was a weapon or non-weapon.

Main Results:

  • The speed and perceived intent (threatening vs. non-threatening) of the actor drawing the object significantly predicted officers' responses.
  • Officers' years of service (law enforcement experience) did not significantly predict their accuracy in identifying the object.
  • Biological motion cues were sufficient for influencing officers' judgments in ambiguous situations.

Conclusions:

  • Suspect's biological motion, specifically its speed and intent, plays a significant role in police officers' use-of-force decisions.
  • Law enforcement experience is not a significant factor in accurately identifying threats based on motion cues.
  • Findings have implications for understanding police errors and developing more effective training procedures for ambiguous situations.