AVOIDING UNNECESSARY CONFLICT: HOW MIGHT UNDERSTANDING HONOR CULTURE ENHANCE POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS?
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Authors
Garcia, Jose L.
Subjects
honor culture
policing
use of force
police-citizen encounters
police tactics
policing
use of force
police-citizen encounters
police tactics
Advisors
Strindberg, Anders
Aten, Kathryn J.
Date of Issue
2022-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Because cultural norms influence how citizens perceive legitimacy of officer conduct, tension can result when officer comportment violates citizens' perceptions of acceptable behavior. Since culture, specifically honor culture, may play a role in the perception of police legitimacy, this research suggests one way to maintain legitimacy and manage the tension during police–citizen encounters is for officers to understand the specific framework of honor culture. Several studies on honor cultures demonstrate that honor-related behaviors can negatively affect citizens’ interactions with others, sometimes violently. Although a considerable amount of literature addresses honor cultures, no known literature explores how an understanding of honor culture could influence police–citizen encounters. This thesis integrates a review of literature on honor culture with a series of thought experiments to explore whether officer knowledge of honor culture and associated reputation defense behaviors could enhance police–citizen encounters. The research suggests that a deeper understanding of honor culture and its effect on police–citizen encounters can help police better maintain legitimacy and manage tensions resulting from ill-perceived volatile police-citizen encounters. The findings suggest benefits of police training to better understand honor culture, its applicability to policing, and its effects on citizens' receptivity to officers' comportment during police-citizen encounters.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (CHDS)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
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Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.