Social, Moral, or Both? The Effects of Identity on (Un)Supportive Legal Attitudes

• In Event: Outcomes of Police Treatment

Abstract

This study assesses the link between social identity and (un)supportive legal attitudes (i.e., police legitimacy and legal cynicism). The primary objective is to disaggregate social identity into its constituent parts [i.e., self (operationalized as moral) and social] and regress legal attitudes onto each element to determine whether the effects are consistent in terms of magnitude. To accomplish this, a series of linear regression models are estimated using a university-based sample (N = 593). Preliminary models reveal evidence consistent with prior research. However, when the social identity scale is disaggregated, the results indicate that the effect sizes vary between the two elements. More specifically, the regression estimates suggest that the moral component is a stronger correlate. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.

Keywords: policing, legitimacy, social identity, legal cynicism

Authors

• Ryan D. Mays, Arizona State University

• Michael D. Reisig, Arizona State University