Apathy, resistance, and disengagement: A social media analysis exploring anti-police sentiment through motivational postures
Anti-police sentiment, characterised by intense negative attitudes towards police, is a growing concern for police, policymakers, and members of the public. Despite increasing academic interest, knowledge of the nature and dynamics of anti-police sentiment remains limited, which inhibits our underst...
| Authors: | ; ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Policing and society
Year: 2025, Volume: 35, Issue: 10, Pages: 1377-1394 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | Anti-police sentiment, characterised by intense negative attitudes towards police, is a growing concern for police, policymakers, and members of the public. Despite increasing academic interest, knowledge of the nature and dynamics of anti-police sentiment remains limited, which inhibits our understanding of consequences for officers and citizens, and thus our ability to formulate impactful responses. This study aims to expand the current conception of anti-police sentiment, by employing Braithwaite's [(2014). Defiance and motivational postures. In: G. Bruinsma, and D. Weisburd, eds. Encyclopedia of criminology and criminal justice. New York, NY: Springer New York, 915–925] motivational posturing theory to consider anti-police sentiment as a demonstration of defiance towards the police. A content analysis of 844 police-centred comments on Australian city subreddits found that users most often displayed a resistance posture, followed by disengagement, and commitment, and a newly identified posture: apathy. A subsequent thematic analysis found that the concerns underlying these postures largely focus on the people within policing (officer character and organisational culture), as well as their practices (conduct and misconduct). Results from this study suggest that anti-police sentiment is associated with demands for police reform in interpersonal interactions and institutional responses to social justice issues, such as domestic violence, mental health, and the treatment of vulnerable groups. Concerningly, higher than expected rates of disengagement, along with apathy, highlight fatigue with police practice and policy and a lack of faith in police reform capability. These findings contribute to the burgeoning knowledge of anti-police sentiment in the Australian context, positions Braithwaite’s (2014) motivational posturing theory as an effective investigation framework, and provides a foundation for ongoing research and future policymaking. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-2728 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10439463.2025.2511754 |
