Media Consumption and Confidence in the police: System Justification Theory versus Performance Theory

• In Event: Views of the Police and Their Consequences

Abstract

According to system justification theory, people try to legitimize the status quo when they perceive the system is under threat. Even when a social system is unjust and unfair, if people believe that they largely count on the system, they may feel motivated to underestimate problems in the system to manage threats (Van der Toorn, Tyler, & Jost, 2011). System justification theory suggests that a high level of perceived risk of crime or fear of crime may promote positive attitudes toward the police instead of lowering them (Jost & Banaji, 1994). This intriguing proposition informed by social psychology contradicts predictions from the instrumental model (Jackson & Sunshine, 2007). The instrumental model posits that the police will be assessed on their performance, including preventing crime, apprehending criminals, and reducing fear of crime. According to this model, fear of crime lowers positive perceptions of police because people hold the police responsible for their fear. The present study aims to empirically test which theory better explains the relationship between media consumption and perceptions of police.

Author

• Jaeyong Choi, Angelo State University