Big (5) Personalities: Defining “Guardian” from the Public’s Perspective

Abstract

Abstract Police research is rife with discussion of the warrior-guardian orientation debate. However, largely absent from this discussion is the public’s perspective on what defines these caricatures. Using a national-level quota sample ( N = 1,131), we use adjectives drawn from the Big Five personality traits to understand how the public describes the warrior and guardian in policing. Results show that adjectives, such as vengeful and disagreeable, are associated with the warrior orientation, whereas the guardian orientation is described with the adjectives of being calm, forgiving, and gentle. Still, several adjectives fell on a spectrum between these role orientations, suggesting such dichotomies may oversimplify the role orientations of officers and the complexities of policing. The public’s perceptions of these adjectives and police role orientations also hold potential importance for mechanisms to improve police legitimacy and assessing recruits’ suitability for police work.