The Influence of Police Profanity on Public Perception of Excessive Force

Patton, Christina L.; Asken, Michael J.; Fremouw, William J.; Bemis, Robert

doi:10.1007/s11896-017-9226-0

“…In fact, for some forces, a Bvoice command^is third in a gradient continuum of seven stages, after Bno force^and Bpolice presence^(see Garner et al 1995:158). After all, if order can be restored by using foul language rather than the use of a physical response, the former should be preferred; however, this demeanor from an officer does not look good on camera (for further on the use of profanity by officers, see Patton et al 2017). …”

Section: Bover-deterrencetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paradoxical effects of self-awareness of being observed: testing the effect of police body-worn cameras on assaults and aggression against officers

Ariel

¹

,

Sutherland

²

,

Henstock

³

et al. 2017

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Objectives Recently, scholars have applied self-awareness theory to explain why bodyworn cameras (BWCs) affect encounters between the public and police, with its most immediate manifestation being a reduction in the use of force by and complaints against police. In this study, we report on the paradoxical effects of BWCs in the context of assaults on officers. Methods A multisite randomized controlled trial in ten departments, with officers wearing (or not wearing) BWCs based on random assignment of shifts. Odds ratios are used to estimate the treatment effect on assaults, along with Bone study removedŝ ensitivity analyses. Further subgroup analyses are performed in terms of varying degrees of officers' discretion, to enhance the practical applications of this multisite experiment. Finally, before-analyses are applied as well, control shifts (M = 28.38; SD = 15.99), which translate into 37% higher odds of assault in treatment shifts than in control conditions. The perverse direction and relative magnitude in each experimental site in eight out of ten sites were consistent. The backfiring treatment effect was substantially more pronounced in low discretion sites, i.e., where officers strongly followed the experimental protocol (OR = 2.565; 95% CI 1.792, 3.672). At the same time, before-after analyses show that assaults were overall reduced by 61% in the participating police departments, thus suggesting paradoxical effects.Conclusions We explain these findings using self-awareness theory. Once self-aware that their performance is being observed by BWCs, officers become at risk of being assaulted. Results suggest that under some circumstances, self-awareness can lead to excessive self-inspection that strips power-holders of their ability to function under extreme situations. This mechanism is potentially a function of Bover-deterrence^. The study further demonstrates the benefits of applying psychosocial theories to the study of social control and deterrence theories more broadly, with a robust and falsifiable mechanism that explains the conditions under which being observed stimulates either appropriate or perverse consequences.

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“…Cathartic swearing can be done with or without an audience [ 104 ] and is neither polite nor rude [ 64 , 104 , 152 ]. Some studies have projected that the use of profane language by therapists during the therapeutic session resulted in the negative evaluation of the therapists by the clients [ 67 ]. The clients perceived the therapists using profane language as dishonest, incapable, dissatisfying [ 153 ], untrustworthy (M. [ 154 ]), physically unattractive [ 155 ], disrespectful, unprofessional, and insensitive to the needs of the clients [ 156 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some other studies, however, have portrayed the positive effects of using profane language during the therapeutic session ([ 157 ]; M. J. [ 100 , 153 , 156 , 158 – 160 ]) such as to create an impression that the therapist is understanding and relatable to the clients [ 160 ], to oppose the prevailing culture [ 161 ], to make the conversation more effective (G. [ 105 , 160 ]), and to be more convincing [ 67 ] like the public speakers who use profane language in their speeches that were found to be more effective (M. D. [ 162 ]), more persuasive and intense [ 93 ], and more trustworthy for the listeners [ 62 ]. A study required the respondents to listen to the recorded conversation between therapists and clients and found that the respondents, upon the use of profane words by clients, found the therapist involved as more expert, attractive, and more trustworthy [ 156 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Profanity refers to offensive [ 61 ] and aggressive [ 62 , 63 ] taboo words [ 64 ] related to body parts, bodily functions, sex, religion [ 65 ], and language based on positive or negative emotions [ 61 , 66 ] and is subject to the subjective interpretation of the receiver [ 67 ] and the context in which profane language is used [ 68 ]. Profanity can be an unfiltered and abrupt expression of emotions [ 69 ] and a planned insult of an object, place, or a person [ 70 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Profanity is more tolerable in private gatherings as compared to formal meetings [ 64 , 83 ] and within the same gender groups as compared with groups involving mixed genders [ 61 ]. The objectives of using profane language include social bonding, handling emotional and physical pain, emotional catharsis, expressing power and control, establishing dominant-submissive relationships, confronting authorities, labeling others, conveying aggression, and humiliating others [ 64 , 66 , 67 , 84 – 90 ]. Profanity is also used for humor and comedy [ 91 – 93 ] and to stimulate sexual excitement (Teresa E. [ 80 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Profanity as a Self-Defense Mechanism and an Outlet for Emotional Catharsis in Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Husain

¹

,

Wasif

²

,

Fatima

³

2023

Depression Research and Treatment

0

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Background. Swearing is an increasing trend among men and women worldwide. Earlier studies on the positive aspects of profanity mostly relate to pain management and the release of negative emotions. The uniqueness of the current study is its analysis for a possible constructive role of profanity in stress, anxiety, and depression. Method. The current survey involved 253 conveniently selected participants from Pakistan. The study analyzed the role of profanity in connection to stress, anxiety, and depression. Profanity Scale and the Urdu version of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale were used along with a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and t -test were implied to obtain results. Results. The study revealed that the usage of profane language had significantly inverse correlations with stress ( r = − 0.250 ; p < 0.01 ), anxiety ( r = − 0.161 ; p < 0.05 ), and depression ( r = − 0.182 ; p < 0.01 ). Higher profaners also revealed significantly lower levels of depression ( M = 29.91 , SD = 10.80 vs. M = 33.48 , SD = 10.40 ; p = 0.009 ; Cohen’s d = 0.338 ) and stress ( M = 30.83 , SD = 11.41 vs. M = 35.16 , SD = 11.31 ; p = 0.003 ; Cohen’s d = 0.381 ) as compared to lower profaners. Profanity had no significant correlations with age ( r = 0.031 ; p > 0.05 ) and education ( r = 0.016 ; p > 0.05 ). Men projected significantly higher levels of profanity as compared to women. Conclusion. The current study viewed profanity similar to the self-defense mechanisms and emphasized on its cathartic role in stress, anxiety, and depression.

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