Lambert, Claudia
1.57 MB of textual records (PDF)
Audience: Undergraduate. -- Dissertation: Thesis (B. A.). -- Algoma University, 1994. -- Submitted in partial fulfillment of course requirements for PSYC 4105. -- Includes figures. -- Contents: Literature review / Thesis.
Perceptions of importance of police traits and the culpability attributed to police officers in misconduct cases were explored. Subjects rated: 1) the importance of traits for effective police work, 2) the culpability of an officer in two detailed cases, one involving police brutality and the second involving non-brutality, and 3) the culpability of officers in brief scenarios involving misjudgment. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions wherein the gender of the officer was male, female or undifferentiated. Subjects recommended one of seven disciplinary measures. Results indicated that female and male subjects differ in the importance that they ascribe to various personality traits for effective police work and also in the severity of punishment recommended. Male subjects recommended equal punishment for misjudgment and brutality cases whereas female subjects recommended harsher punishments for cases involving brutality.
