Ethnocultural Empathy and Racial Colorblindness Among White Police Recruits: Do Cross-Racial Friendships Matter?

• Published date: 01 October 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/21533687211021051
• Author: B. Andi Lee,Helen A. Neville,Michael Schlosser,Maria J. Valgoi,Sundiata K. Cha-Jua
• Date: 01 October 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Ethnocultural Empathy

and Racial Colorblindness

Among White Police

Recruits: Do Cross-Racial

Friendships Matter?

B. Andi Lee

1

, Helen A. Neville

2

,

Michael Schlosser

3

, Maria J. Valgoi

4

,

and Sundiata K. Cha-Jua

5

Abstract

We investigated how ethnocultural empathy and colorblind racial beliefs were asso-

ciated through the racial composition of close friendship groups in police recruits. In a

sample of White police recruits in a midwestern training academy (N¼192), med-

iation analyses revealed a significant association between ethnocultural empathy and

colorblind racial beliefs through Black friendships. Specifically, findings from path

analyses indicated an indirect effect between earlier empathy for Black, Indigenous,

People of Color and later reduced denial of institutional racism. Although both eth-

nocultural empathy and racial beliefs were associated with Asian American and Latinx

friends, these close cross-racial friendships were not significant mediators. Limita-

tions, directions for future research, and implications for training and intervention in

police samples are discussed.

1

Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, IL, USA

2

Departments of Educational Psychology and African American Studies, University of Illinois at

Urbana–Champaign, IL, USA

3

Police Training Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, IL, USA

4

Division of Psychology and Counseling, Governors State University, University Park, IL, USA

5

Departments of History and African American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, IL,

USA

Corresponding Author:

B. Andi Lee, Department of Psychology, 603 E. Daniel Street, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,

Champaign, IL, 61820, USA.

Email: andiq2@illinois.edu

Race and Justice

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DOI: 10.1177/21533687211021051

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2023, Vol. 13(4) 411–\ 432

Keywords

ethnocultural empathy, racial colorblindness, police officer, cross-racial friendship

There has been growing concern about police-community relations, especially with

the increased attention to police misconduct against Black and Latinx community

members (U.S. Department of Justice, 2015). Before the Movement for Black Lives’

call to defund the police, community organizations advocated for police reform and

increased diversity education (Valgoi, 2016). Mothers Against Police Brutality, for

example, identified two main areas of multicultural education that they wanted police

officers to receive training around: (a) expressions of empathy and (b) awareness of

the role of racism in shaping people’s lived experiences (Birzer, 2008; Coon, 2016;

Schlosser, 2011; Tobias & Joseph, 2018). To date, however, there is a paucity of

research on the association between empathy and awareness of racism toward Black,

Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). The current project was designed to address

the gaps in the literature by exploring the association between ethnocultural empathy

and racial colorblindness among police recruits. Having this information can help

shape recruitment and training strategies (April et al., 2019; Vaughn & Johnson,

2020), and inform policies and practices within police departments, including

community-based cultural competency training (McLane-Davison et al., 2018). We

argue that in order for officers to support antiracism policies and practices it is

essential to have care and compassion for BIPOC and to have an awareness that

structural racism exists and negatively influences the lived realities of BIPOC

communities.

Ethnocultural Empathy

Researchers in police studies have identified ethnocultural empathy as a precursor to

cultural competencies and a necessary attribute to reduce police misconduct directed

toward BIPOC communities (Birzer, 2008; Vaughn & Johnson, 2020). Ethnocultural

empathy (EE) is the understanding toward and acceptance of different ethnic groups.

Wang and colleagues (2003) identified four components of EE: cognitive (racial-

ethnic perspective-taking), affective (empathic emotions and racial bias awareness),

communicative (translating thoughts and feelings into words and actions), and

acceptance of cultural differences in BIPOC group practices and traditions. Research

suggests that greater EE can not only reduce intolerance, conflicts, and discriminatory

beliefs, but also increase understanding, respect, and acceptance in inter- and intra-

cultural relationships (Wang et al., 2003). EE has been linked to positive cognitive and

affective outcomes in White undergraduate samples, including reduced stereotyping

and prejudice and increased positive evaluation of out-group members, specifically

Black individuals (Pashak et al., 2018). Greater EE has also been associated with

positive perceptions of diversity programs (Irimia, 2010) and in eliminating the Black-

White racial divide in support for the death penalty (Godcharles et al., 2019).

412

Race and Justice 13(4)