Support for Democratic Policing Among Frontline Police Officers: The Role of Social Dominance Orientation.

This article examines the relationship between Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)—an individual’s preference for group-based social hierarchy—and police officers’ attitudes toward democratic policing practices in a state-level police organization in the United States. Analyzing survey data from 656 frontline officers, the study finds that officers with higher SDO scores are more willing to use excessive force, less willing to report peer misconduct, and less supportive of procedurally fair policing practices, even after controlling for demographic and organizational factors. These findings suggest that officers’ psychological orientations, particularly SDO, may inhibit the internalization of democratic policing values, posing challenges for police reform efforts aimed at promoting accountability, fairness, and community trust. The study highlights the potential role of organizational culture, supervisory oversight, and recruitment strategies in addressing the influence of SDO on policing outcomes.