TY - JOUR
T1 - The Psychology of Criminal Authority: Introducing the Legitimacy of Secret Power Scale
AU - Travaglino, Giovanni
AU - Mirisola, Alberto
AU - Moon, Chanki
AU - Burgmer, Pascal
AU - Imada, Hirotaka
AU - Giammusso, Isabella
AU - D'Ottone, Silvana
AU - Nawata, Kengo
AU - Ozeki, Miki
AU - Abrams, Dominic
PY - 2024/9/17
Y1 - 2024/9/17
N2 - The state’s monopoly on sovereignty can be challenged by criminal systems capable of gaining legitimacy within communities. Understanding the psychological basis of such legitimacy requires broadening traditional conceptualizations of authority to consider how it operates without legal backing and outside formal channels. This research introduces the Legitimacy of Secret Power (L-SP) scale, a tool measuring individuals’ appraisal of illegal groups’ power. We validated L-SP through three studies (Ntotal = 3,173). Findings demonstrate a reliable, 20-item mono-factorial structure. Study 3 tested L-SP’s measurement invariance in the UK, Italy, Japan, and the US. Across studies, L-SP correlated with support for illegality, ideologies of masculine honor, and social dominance. It was inversely related to the perceived national threat of criminal groups, democratic attitudes, and police legitimacy. Notably, L-SP predicted individuals’ willingness to report criminal groups independent of fear or perceptions of police legitimacy. Theoretical implications and future directions are discussed.
AB - The state’s monopoly on sovereignty can be challenged by criminal systems capable of gaining legitimacy within communities. Understanding the psychological basis of such legitimacy requires broadening traditional conceptualizations of authority to consider how it operates without legal backing and outside formal channels. This research introduces the Legitimacy of Secret Power (L-SP) scale, a tool measuring individuals’ appraisal of illegal groups’ power. We validated L-SP through three studies (Ntotal = 3,173). Findings demonstrate a reliable, 20-item mono-factorial structure. Study 3 tested L-SP’s measurement invariance in the UK, Italy, Japan, and the US. Across studies, L-SP correlated with support for illegality, ideologies of masculine honor, and social dominance. It was inversely related to the perceived national threat of criminal groups, democratic attitudes, and police legitimacy. Notably, L-SP predicted individuals’ willingness to report criminal groups independent of fear or perceptions of police legitimacy. Theoretical implications and future directions are discussed.
U2 - 10.1177/13684302241290935
DO - 10.1177/13684302241290935
M3 - Article
SN - 1368-4302
JO - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
JF - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
ER -