How Does Interracial Contact Affect Race-based Perception toward Police?

• In Event: Policing and Race: Exploring Interracial Contact, Perceptions of the Use of Force and Technological Correctives

Abstract

Race has been found as the most significant factor to predict perceptions toward police, as Blacks express less approval on police than whites. Conflict theorists argue that the race-based perception toward police reflects the collective sense of group position and group interests. Whites approve of police more because police actions decrease their risks of victimization from the stereotyped “criminal minorities”. Contrastingly, Blacks see police as a reflection of the domination of whites and, therefore, discredit police as a resistance to such dominance. Interracial contact studies, however, also suggest that individuals gain sympathy and discard existing stereotypes with increasing interracial contact. Using this framework, this study seeks to explore, despite the race-based interest and conflict, how interracial contacts affect individual’s adoption of perception of other racial groups. Additionally, subgroup analysis on classes among different racial groups will be included. The study will use data from Monitoring the Future 2015, which includes respondent’s demographic characteristics, perception toward police, and a series of questions on interracial contacts. Multiple OLS regression models will be used to analyze the effect of interracial contact on the perception of police of different racial groups and different classes among racial groups.

Author

• Ying-Kai Weng, Kent State University