JOURNAL ARTICLE

Examining the effect of warrior and guardian mindsets on attitudes toward use of force: an analysis of US police recruits.

  • Published In: Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice, 2025, v. 19. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Donner, Christopher M; Maskály, Jon 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines the impact of police officers' mindsets on their attitudes toward the use of force, focusing on the distinction between a "warrior" and a "guardian" mindset. It references the Task Force on 21st Century Policing, established by President Obama to improve police legitimacy through community-oriented and service-focused practices, recommending that officers adopt a guardian mindset to reduce aggressive tactics. Using survey data from multiple U.S. police recruit agencies and structural equation modeling, the study finds that recruits with a warrior mindset are more favorable toward using force, while those with a guardian mindset are less favorable. The article discusses these findings along with study limitations and implications for police reform.

Additional Information

  • Source:Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice. 2025/01, Vol. 19, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Law
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1752-4512
  • DOI:10.1093/police/paaf001
  • Accession Number:187368590
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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