Development and validation of a self‐report measure of perceived dehumanization from officers

Abstract

PurposeEmerging evidence indicates that incarcerated populations' perceptions of dehumanization by officers are prevalent, yet measures of it are few, and to our knowledge, no self‐report measure of dehumanization from officers exists. To fill this gap, we have developed the Perceived Dehumanization from Officers Scale (PDOS), which is designed as a brief measure to assess perception of officer treatment as dehumanizing.MethodsIn this article, we provide preliminary evidence from two studies examining the reliability and validity of the PDOS. In study 1, a jail sample (n = 411), we analyzed the exploratory factor structure, internal consistency, and discriminant validity (in relation to procedural justice [PJ]) of the PDOS. Additionally, using a cross‐sectional ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis, we related independent variables with the PDOS, the dependent variable. In Study 2, a prison sample (n = 2993), we confirmed the findings from study 1.ResultsThe PDOS appears to be a psychometrically sound measure of perceived dehumanization from officers with strong association between perceptions of PJ and perceived dehumanization from officers.ConclusionsThe PDOS provides opportunity for future research, intervention through rehumanization efforts, and signals the important officer treatment. Importantly We close by discussing implications of these studies, limitations, and future research directions to further develop and test the PDOS.

Dehumanization and the Association With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Ideation in an Incarcerated Population

“…We acknowledge a limitation of this work is not using person-first language (e.g., inmate); thus, we encourage future research to, instead, modify the language presented in this scale (Tran et al, 2018). Additionally, previous work has sought to validate this scale within incarcerated populations (Robison et al, 2024). These items were developed using similar language to that of Bandura et al (1975) who described a dehumanized vignette condition as animalistic and a rotten bunch (Bandura et al, 1975).…”