Understanding the role positive peer pressure plays in proper police officer ethical decision making

This qualitative case study research project, supplemented with at-length personal interviews, helped to gain an understanding of the role positive peer pressure plays in proper police officer ethical decision making. Conformity theory suggests peer pressure is exerted on members of a group in an effort to get the members to conform to the norms of the group. This external pressure leads members of a group to conform to the group norms in order to avoid discomfort or in support of a desire to receive positive interaction. This external pressure in the workplace impacts the ethical decision making of the workforce, including the ethical decision making of police officers. This study found that positive peer pressure does play a role in proper ethical decision making by police officers. This study also found that personal beliefs and morals play a large role in ethical decision making by police officers. Respondents in this study reported high levels of approval for proper ethical decision making within their peer group. Participants in this research project also reported high levels of support for positive peer pressure to aid them in proper ethical decision making. This research found that it is possible to increase the amount of positive peer pressure in a social setting. Increasing positive peer pressure will lead to higher instances of proper ethical decision making.