A group threat perspective predicts that perceived threat is a function of economic conditions and the size of the subordinate group relative to the dominant group (Blalock, 1967; Schlueter & Davidov, 2013). Initial evidence in support of this model at the aggregate level of the city or county has associated an increase in minority population with increased attacks on minority groups (Green et al., 1998), higher negative attitudes towards minorities (Taylor, 1998). King and Wheelock (2007) provided the first demonstration that these area level associations are mediated by individuals’ perception of threat. Amongst white American’s changes in areas with an increasing African American population, African Americans were associated with threats to public safety and disorder, which were associated in turn with punitive attitudes (King & Wheelock, …show more content…
Such identity relevant information may be derived from instrumental judgements of the police. An instrumental perspective suggests that when the police do effectively protect particular communities, and when outcomes (e.g. quality of service, availability of aid) are not equally distributed, these communities may come to feel isolated from the wider social group that the police represent (Fagan & Davies, 2000). Aggressive police practices such as ‘stop-and-frisk’ (as well as physical abuse have frequently targeted Black individuals concentrated in areas of poverty, high crime, and physical disorder (Fagan & Davies, 2000). The perception of being ‘over-policed’ and ‘under-protected’, has led to sense of social exclusion among many Black individuals (Parmar,