A Longitudinal Study of Attitude Shifts among Black and White Police Officers

Abstract

Radical increases in racial animosity between white and black officers were found from the time of entering the academy until eighteen months later. All officers seemed to become more hedonistic, impersonal, and detached, and to develop feelings of hostility toward authority figures. As black officers progressed through the academy and on into regular police work, they became increasingly negative toward whites and disillusioned with the department; they began to shift in the direction of a greater sense of black unity and polarity against whites. While blacks saw greater preference being given to whites, white officers perceived the converse with the result that they became also more ethnocentric and polarized. Little evidence was found to indicate that a police experience molds men to feel a greater sense of social concern, or that it motivates them to improve relationships between races.

Prejudice in the police: On the processes underlying the effects of selection and group socialisation

“…This study, carried out in France, confirms previous results obtained in other countries (e.g. Carlson & Sulton, 1975;Teahan, 1975). Thus, the negative impact of group socialisation on prejudice in the police seems to be relatively robust and not contextually dependent.…”

“…Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, numerous studies reveal that socialisation is an important process by which attitudes may change (e.g., see Alwin, Cohen & Newcomb, 1991;Bobo & Licari, 1989;Dambrun, Kamiejski, Haddadi, & Duarte, 2009;Guimond, 2000;Guimond et al, 2003;Newcomb, 1943;Sinclair, Sidanius, & Levin, 1998). Interestingly, research provides strong support for an effect of socialisation in the police (Carlson & Sulton, 1975;Genz & Lester, 1976;Hageman, 1979;McNamara, 1967;Teahan, 1975;Wortley & Homel, 1995). For example, McNamara (1967), Carlson and Sutton (1974) and Hageman (1979) found that authoritarianism increased in function of the amount of time worked in the police.…”

“…For example, McNamara (1967), Carlson and Sutton (1974) and Hageman (1979) found that authoritarianism increased in function of the amount of time worked in the police. Concerning racism, Teahan (1975) found that after less than 2 years of police training, white police officers became significantly more hostile towards blacks. However, despite all of these data, we know relatively little about the processes by which group socialisation leads to attitude change (Guimond, 2000;Schneider, 1996).…”

Social dominance orientation: A personality variable predicting social and political attitudes.

“…For example, White police academy recruits became increasingly more negative toward Blacks during their first 18 months as police (Teahan, 1975). Also, the initial racial attitudes of intended hierarchy enhancers resisted the usual liberalizing influence of college the longer they stayed in college (Sidanius, Pratto, Martin, & Stallworth, 1991).…”

The Three Rs of Academic Achievement: Reading, ’Riting, and Racism

“…There are at least two empirical studies that speak to the power of socialization within HE jobs. Carlson and Sutton (1974) found that police recruits became more authoritarian as they progressed through the police academy, and Teahan (1975) found that White police officers became more anti-Black as they proceeded through the police academy (for other socialization effects of police work, see Butler & Cochrane, 1977;Carlson & Sutton, 1975;Hazer & Alvares, 1981;Lefkowitz, 1977;McGahan, 1984;Sutton & Carlson, 1977;Teahan, Adams, & Podany, 1980;Van-Maanen, 1975 In this study, we will further explore the issue of congr uen ce bet ween a nt iega lit aria n beliefs an d HE/HA-social roles within the university environment.…”