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- Title
Police Intervention in Riots: the Role of Accountability and Group Norms. A Field Experiment.
- Authors
Kroon, Marceline B.R.; Van Kreveld, Dik; Rabbie, Jacob M.
- Abstract
This study explores the role of perceived account ability in riot police action. The belie hypothesis is that accountability, provided that non-violent norms arc made salient, will lessen the chances of escalation of a conflict between police and demonstrators. Four platoons participated in a field experiment conducted at the Dutch Riot Police Academy, in which they played a riot simulation. In a 2 × 2 design, the effects of accountability and Department on attitudes and norms concerning the action of ‘police’ and ‘demonstrators’ were tested. Measurements were made before and after the simulation. Internal analysis, involving redefined accountability categories, provided support for our hypothesis. That is, perceived accountability proved to be related to a heightened public self-awareness, a less extremely positive evaluation of fellow group members, and less intergroup differentiation. The limitations of an internal analysis are discussed, as well as the importance of the nature of organizational norms and of the account ability forum in predicting the effect of accountability.
- Subjects
POLICE; RIOTS; NONVIOLENCE; RIOT control; POLITICAL violence; PUBLIC demonstrations; CRIMINAL liability; INTERGROUP relations; CROWDS
- Publication
Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 1991, Vol 1, Issue 4, p249
- ISSN
1052-9284
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/casp.2450010402