AUTHOR=van Reemst Lisa , Fischer Tamar , Weerman Frank 

TITLE=Aggression Against Police Officers and Behavior Toward Citizens: Reciprocal Influence or Common Causes?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.866923

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.866923

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Police officers are often the victim of aggression by citizens, which has negative consequences for them and society in general. Therefore, it is important to gain knowledge about related factors. This study examines to what extent experiencing aggression as a police officer is related to their patience with citizens and use of force weapons and tools. Two hypotheses based on the victim-offender overlap are examined: that aggression experiences and dealing with citizens influence each other or that they have common causes. This study was conducted on the basis of a longitudinal questionnaire survey among police officers (N=693). The results show that behavior towards citizens, including patience with citizens and the use of force is related to the aggression police officers experience. The association diminishes when common causes, in this case socio-demographic and work-related characteristics are taken into account, but does not disappear. No direct support is found for reciprocal influence. Implications and suggestions for further research are described.