A new study finds that some U.S. police officers use the 'bad guys' label to simplify complex moral situations and justify their actions.
Key facts
- •The research was led by Abigail Henson of Arizona University.
- •Co-authors included Jason R. Silver of Rutgers and Janani Umamaheswar of George Mason University.
- •The study, titled 'Negotiating the "Bad Guy": Defensive Simplification and Moral Ambiguity in Police Work,' was published in 2026.
- •The findings address issues regarding police discretion, judgment, and the potential for reform.
A study published in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency explores how some U.S. police officers utilize the term 'bad guys' to categorize individuals who commit crimes. Researchers found that this label helps officers navigate ambiguous or morally challenging situations by providing a clearer framework for decision-making.
Functions of the Label
According to the study, the 'bad guy' archetype serves to legitimize police authority and facilitate rapid decision-making during high-stakes encounters. By reducing complex contexts into a more legible framework, officers can simplify moral evaluations of the people they encounter.
Recognition of Instability
The authors note that while officers use the term to gain moral clarity, they also recognize its inherent instability. Many officers expressed concern that without this archetype, their actions in the field might feel uncertain or difficult to defend, even when they are aware of the various factors that contribute to lawbreaking behavior.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Phys.org.
