|
|
Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Psychology
Notes
- Abstract:
- Lack of police legitimacy has long been an issue in the Black community, as many are hesitant in trusting in the police. Unfortunately, negative attention towards police misconduct has increased over the past several years due to highly publicized police killings of civilians such as Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Laquan McDonald, Tamir Rice, and many more. Research suggests that race plays an important role in perceptions of police. Given the importance of racial attitudes in this context, it is important to understand whether and to what extent Blacks’ experiences and perceptions about their racial status influence their trust in police. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the racial identity and racial socialization of Blacks and their attitudes towards police. It was hypothesized that the more one’s racial identity, and racial socialization were developed/fostered, the less positively they will perceive law enforcement. It was predicted that scores on the pre-encounter assimilation subscale would be negatively correlated with positive perceptions of police. It was also predicted that scores on the internalized subscales (Afrocentric and Multiculturalist Inclusive) would be negatively correlated with positive perceptions of police. It was predicted that racial socialization would be negatively correlated with positive perceptions of police and that racial socialization and racial identity scores would predict perceptions of police. After providing informed consent, 64 undergraduate and graduate students completed an online survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire followed by the three questionnaires: the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) measuring racial identity, the Scale of Racial Socialization (SORS) measuring different aspects of racial socialization in educational, family, and societal venues, and finally, the attitudes towards police legitimacy scale (APLS) measuring perceptions of police legitimacy. A correlation analysis examined the relationships between scores on the CRIS (racial identity), SORS-A (racial socialization), and APLS (police legitimacy). A multiple regression analysis examined whether racial identity and racial socialization predict attitudes toward police legitimacy. The analysis revealed the model was statistically significant, F(10, 38) = 4.07, p = .001, where R2 = 0.52. The CRIS Immersion/Emersion Anti-White subscale was a significant predictor of perceptions of police, (β = -2.55, t = 2.98, p = .005), as was the SORS Racism Awareness subscale, (β = 3.92, t = 4.161, p < .001). The findings suggest that the more one’s racial identity was developed and fostered, the lower one’s perceptions of police legitimacy, however the results regarding the role of racial socialization were not as clear. Insight into the role of socialization processes and stages of racial identity growth could offer insight on how to improve perceptions of police and build interventions to promote positive community relationships with police.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (M.S.)--Barry University, 2019.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-55).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Melodie Plaise. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- HV7936.P8 P53 2019_PlaiseMelodie ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- HV7936.P8 P53 2019 ( lcc )
|
|
