Abstract
Psychology has recently begun to examine human interpersonal social predictors of violence. One area yet unexamined is potential differences between law enforcement officers and non-police in their perception of aggressive interpersonal social cues. Using a sample of 129 police officers and 178 non-police individuals, a direct comparison was made about perceptions of interpersonal social behaviors associated with imminent violence. It was revealed that both samples generally shared similar perceptions, with a few exceptions. Police officers were more sensitive than other individuals are to each of the behavioral cues. The police sample also perceived the behavior of placing one’s hands in one’s pockets as more threatening than did the non-police sample.
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For an overview of what each witness reported seeing in the Michael Brown shooting incident, see Lopez, G. (January 27, 2016). The 2014 protests over the Michael Brown shooting, explained. VOX. Downloaded from: http://www.vox.com/cards/mike-brown-protests-ferguson-missouri/mike-brown-shooting-facts-details
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Johnson, R.R. Show Me Your Hands! Police and Public Perceptions of Violent Interpersonal Cues. J Police Crim Psych 32, 289–299 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-016-9221-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-016-9221-x