Identity Fusion, Misinformation and Police Legitimacy

• In Event: Policing Strategies and Perspectives, Yesterday and Today

Abstract

In recent years, misinformation has proliferated both social media and the regular news cycle. This includes misinformation presented by police in the aftermath of police violence. We argue that police misinformation undermines the legitimacy of the policing institution, but people’s willingness to believe initial misinformation (or disbelieve later corrections) is based on their level of identity fusion with police, fear of becoming a victim of crime, and/or fear of becoming a victim of police brutality. We analyze this by using survey data and descriptive vignettes of recent police misinformation.

Authors

• Melissa Swauncy-Coleman, University of Massachusetts Lowell

• Neil Shortland, University of Massachusetts Lowell