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Social-psychological dynamics of police-minority relations: An evolutionary interpretation

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  • Holmes, Malcolm D.
  • Smith, Brad W.

Abstract

Tensions between police and citizens have long existed in US cities, especially in disadvantaged minority neighborhoods. Citizens are concerned about lack of police protection and aggressive strategies of policing, whereas the police are concerned about self-protection from objective and subjective threats posed by citizens. Scholars have focused on factors such as the subculture of policing and the system of racial/ethnic stratification to explain the tension between the groups. Those perspectives overlook important social-psychological processes involved in intergroup conflicts. Consideration of evolved mental mechanisms characteristic of modern humans may provide fresh insights into police-citizen relations. Interrelated emotional and cognitive processes create social cohesion among ingroups and defensive action against threatening outgroups. In this article, we describe the evolution of these mechanisms and their persistence among modern humans. We analyze the ways in which these deep-seated mental processes influence police-minority tensions in the context of disadvantaged neighborhoods. We conclude by considering the implications of those ordinary social-psychological processes for ameliorating the problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Holmes, Malcolm D. & Smith, Brad W., 2018. "Social-psychological dynamics of police-minority relations: An evolutionary interpretation," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 58-68.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:59:y:2018:i:c:p:58-68
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2017.05.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cao, Liqun & Huang, Bu, 2000. "Determinants of citizen complaints against police abuse of power," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 203-213.
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