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ETD Abstract Container

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The Effects of Simulated Police Presence on Initial Perceptions and Emotional Responses of College Aged Males

Saulter, Leah J
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1543334195172356

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
This study examined the role of race in social facilitation, otherwise known as mere presence. Ratings from 63 undergraduate men were compared based on their race and the race of a simulated presence, a police officer. Participants completed study measures while in the presence of a computer screen that displayed a recorded loop of an individual dressed in a police uniform who appeared to be occasionally looking at the participant. The race of the police officer on the video screen varied by experimental condition. The participants provided ratings of their reaction to the officer and their experiences of police in previous interactions and completed a brief math task and a demographic form. Relative to White participants, POC (Participants/persons of color) consistently anticipated a more negative interaction with the simulated officer and they indicated that they had experienced more negative emotions in previous interactions with law enforcement. Ratings did not differ by race of the simulated police officer. Although there were no differences in the actual performance of White participants versus POC, their ratings of the anxiety they felt while completing the math problems differed significantly. Overall, the race of the police officer resulted in few significant differences in participants’ rating and there were few interaction effects. Therefore, it appears that police officers of any race generally produce more negative feelings in people of color than in White people; however, specifically anxiety related to task performance can be affected by factors beyond the race of the participant. The effect of mere presence appears to be experienced differently by members of different races and deserves greater research attention.
Kathleen Hart, Ph.D., ABPP (Advisor)
113 p.
African American Studies; Behavioral Psychology; Black Studies; Criminology; Psychology
mere presence; race; law enforcement; police; persons of color; minority; anxiety; negative evaluation; stress; confidence; fear; emotional reaction; task performance; stereotype threat

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Saulter, L. J. (2018). The Effects of Simulated Police Presence on Initial Perceptions and Emotional Responses of College Aged Males [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1543334195172356

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Saulter, Leah. The Effects of Simulated Police Presence on Initial Perceptions and Emotional Responses of College Aged Males . 2018. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1543334195172356.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Saulter, Leah. "The Effects of Simulated Police Presence on Initial Perceptions and Emotional Responses of College Aged Males ." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1543334195172356

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1543334195172356
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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.