Value-Driven Perceptions: Implications for Police Reform and Dialogue

• In Event: Institutional Trust, Cultural Framing, and Community Relations

Abstract

This study examines the connection between values and attitudes towards the police. It finds that individuals who prioritize conformity, tradition, and security tend to have more favorable views of the police, while those who prioritize universalism, self-direction, and benevolence tend to have less favorable views. The results suggest that value orientations influence how people perceive and relate to law enforcement.
The study also explores the implications of these findings in the context of contemporary debates about policing, such as those related to the "defund the police" and "blue lives matter" movements. It discusses how differing value orientations contribute to the challenges in achieving consensus on police reform and the importance of understanding these diverse perspectives to improve community-police relations.
The research highlights the relevance of values in predicting attitudes towards the police and emphasizes the need for continued interdisciplinary work on values to foster productive dialogue and find common ground in the discussion around policing.

Author

• Robert Morris, Weber State University