ABSTRACT
Policing is concerned with a diverse array of issues and practices. On a daily basis police officers find themselves in situations where they must intervene to dampen down conflict between citizens or where, because of their actions (e.g., signaling their intention to make an arrest) they are likely to find themselves in conflict with other citizens. It is also commonplace for them to be involved in policing instances of inappropriate or illegal behavior on the roads (e.g., apprehending speeding or intoxicated drivers). They often have to decide whether particular citizen behavior warrants the issue of a citation, arrest, or simply a warning. At other times, they may be involved in interviewing witnesses, suspects, or offenders, or arranging for identification tests. They do all of these things knowing that they have particular authority and that citizens are likely to perceive and to react to that authority in particular (though sometimes different) ways.
