How the “Black criminal” stereotype shapes Black people’s psychological experience of policing: Evidence of stereotype threat and remaining questions.

Abstract

Cultural stereotypes that link Black race to crime in the United States originated with and are perpetuated by policies that result in the disproportionate criminalization and punishment of Black people. The scientific record is replete with evidence that these stereotypes impact perceivers’ perceptions, information processing, and decision-making in ways that produce more negative criminal legal outcomes for Black people than White people. However, relatively scant attention has been paid to understanding how situations that present a risk of being evaluated through the lens of crime-related stereotypes also directly affect Black people. In this article, I consider one situation in particular: encounters with police. I draw on social psychological research on stereotype threat generally as well as the few existing studies of crime-related stereotype threat specifically to illuminate how the cultural context creates psychologically distinct experiences of police encounters for Black people as compared to White people. I further consider the potential ramifications of stereotype threat effects on police officers’ judgments and treatment of Black people as well as for Black people’s safety and well-being in other criminal legal contexts and throughout their lives. Finally, I conclude with a call for increased scholarly attention to crime-related stereotype threat and the role it plays in contributing to racial disparities in policing outcomes, particularly with regard to diverse racial, ethnic, and intersectional identities and personal vulnerability factors, and the systemic changes that might mitigate its deleterious effects.

Passion for guns and beliefs in a dangerous world: An examination of defensive gun ownership

“…To contextualize these expectations, it is important to consider the deep-seated stereotypes that historically link race, specifically Black identity, to criminality within the USA. These pervasive stereotypes are not merely the result of individual biases but are deeply rooted in and perpetuated by systemic policies that have historically criminalized and disproportionately penalized Black communities (see Najdowski, 2023).…”

The causes and consequences of stigma among individuals involved in the criminal legal system: A systematic review.

“…Specifically, research not only suggests cumulative consequences of being a member of multiple marginalized groups (Reinka et al, 2020), but it also suggests that certain intersecting stigmatized attributes subject people to particularly negative judgments, unique social disadvantages, and amplified stress (i.e., intersectionality theory; Cole, 2009). For instance, the structural and social stigma surrounding a criminal record is particularly severe for Black men and women, who face more barriers than white individuals to accessing adequate health care, treatment, employment, and other resources (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013), and who are subjected to specific stereotypes about violence, substance use, and criminality (Najdowski, 2023; Welch, 2007). In addition, the intersecting stigma of addiction and criminal involvement has been identified as particularly problematic (Hartwell, 2004; van Olphen et al, 2009).…”

A Primer for Culturally Attuned Psychedelic Research

“…For example, when words such as "investigation" or "experimental session" are used to describe study procedures, certain BIPOC and queer individuals might experience other forms of stereotype threat (Najdowski, 2023) and/or be likely to decline participation possibly due to preconceptions they may hold about the nature or novelty of such procedures being activated. To elaborate, for example, the use of the word "investigation" may be synonymous with police involvement, which may make certain participants (e.g., Black and Hispanic individuals) wary and/or perceive study procedures as invasive or coercive.…”

“…To elaborate, for example, the use of the word "investigation" may be synonymous with police involvement, which may make certain participants (e.g., Black and Hispanic individuals) wary and/or perceive study procedures as invasive or coercive. This can be due to past negative experiences with law enforcement or knowledge of racially motivated police brutality occurring in Black and Hispanic communities (Najdowski, 2023;Neitzke-Spruill, 2020). Additionally, "experimental session" may activate preconceptions as being experimented on as "guinea pigs" (see Stauffer et al, 2022, p. 6).…”