Us Versus Them? The Problem of Cognitive Distortions in Policing.

This article examines how the cognitive distortion known as dichotomous thinking—defined as viewing situations or people in extreme, "all-or-nothing" terms—is associated with problematic police officer attitudes toward use of force and citizen interactions. Using two studies with U.S. police officers, dichotomous thinking was operationalized through a combination of high "warrior" (crime-fighting) and low "guardian" (community-oriented) mindsets in Study 1, and through officers' expressed suspicion and distrust of citizens in Study 2. Findings indicate that officers exhibiting dichotomous thinking were less supportive of de-escalation, procedural justice, and self-control, and more supportive of force-related misconduct; they also perceived greater threat and harmful intent in citizen encounters. The research suggests that such cognitive distortions may underlie persistent challenges in police reform and highlights the potential for recruitment, training, and cognitive-behavioral interventions to address these distorted perceptions within police subculture.