Date of Conferral

9-23-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Jana Price-Sharps

Abstract

Police officers’ use of force on the public has been a popular topic of conversation over the last decade. Political campaigns, social media platforms, and neighborhood groups have expressed concerns about how police officers use force disproportionately within various communities. Suggestions have been made to increase police training, promote body-worn cameras, and foster greater transparency to hold police officers accountable for actions that may be unethical or illegal. This study sought to understand if cultural environments have an effect on law enforcement’s interaction with Black same gender loving males (BSGLM). Understanding the use of force was derived from BSGLMs’ perspectives as they described the use of force within their communities by police officers. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of BSGLM concerning cultural responsiveness related to police use of force. This study was designed to help bridge the gap between the BSGLM community and police officers by promoting meaningful, productive encounters and positive social change. Albert Bandura's social learning theory served as the theoretical foundation for this qualitative phenomenological study. The interview questions explored eight BSGLMs' analyses of cultural responsiveness concerning police use of force. The data analysis method included a sample group of eight BSGLMs who were recruited through social media. The data were analyzed using NVivo. The positive social change implications of this study involve building relationships between BSGLMs and police officers. The findings could also be used to develop resources and programs aimed at reducing the use of force between the two communities.

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