Examining the Consequences of Dehumanization and Adultification in Justification of Police Use of Force Against Black Girls and Boys

• Published in: Law and human behavior 2023-02, Vol.47 (1), p.36-52
• Main Authors: Perillo, Jennifer T., Sykes, Rochelle B., Bennett, Sean A., Reardon, Margaret C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Black People; Cognitive Bias; Crime Victims; Dehumanization; Emotions; Female; Gender Bias; Human; Human Sex Differences; Humans; Intersectionality; Male; Police; Police Personnel; Racial and Ethnic Differences; Racial Bias; White People
• ISSN: 0147-7307; 1573-661X
• DOI: 10.1037/lhb0000521

Objective: Given the greater contact that Black youth have with the legal system compared with White youth, it is important to consider the differential ways that police use of force against these youth is perceived. Black youth may be at greater risk than White youth for animalistic (being seen as animal-like) and mechanistic (being seen as object-like) dehumanization, which, along with a tendency for Black youth to be perceived as older (adultification), may impact observers' perceptions of police use of force toward Black youth. This study examined whether dehumanization and adultification were associated with the perceptions of force used and harm caused by police. Hypotheses: We made five hypotheses. First, participants would dehumanize Black individuals more than White individuals, more mechanistically dehumanize Black women than Black men, and more animalistically dehumanize Black men than Black women. Second, dehumanization would be positively associated with adultification. Third, force would be rated as less appropriate and more excessive for White than for Black targets, particularly for males. Fourth, dehumanization, particularly animalistic dehumanization, would be associated with higher participant ratings of force justification and lower participant ratings of force severity and excessiveness. Fifth, participants would perceive girls as more harmed than boys and White individuals as more harmed than Black individuals. Method: After completing an implicit dehumanization measure, participants viewed an image (varied on age and gender) of a juvenile, estimated the juvenile's age, and read a vignette in which the juvenile had an altercation with police. Participants rated the amount, severity, and justification of the force used by the officer as well as the physical and emotional harm caused to the juvenile. Results: We found that Black targets were dehumanized more than White targets. Adultification, unrelated to implicit dehumanization, predicted perceiving police use of force against juveniles as more justified and less severe. Black girls were most likely to experience adultification; participants generally perceived them as less victimized than Black boys and White girls. Conclusions: Adultification is associated with fewer protections for youth. Those with particular intersectional identities, such as Black girls, may be uniquely vulnerable to harm caused by police victimization. Public Significance Statement Black youth are uniquely vuln