Can Contact Improve Police–citizen Relations? Reducing Police Conspiracy Beliefs and Protest Violence

Conspiracy beliefs about the police likely strain police-citizens relations, particularly during high-tension encounters such as protests. Understanding how to reduce such beliefs is therefore crucial. Building on evidence that positive intergroup contact can lower intergroup conspiracy beliefs, this research examined how both direct and parasocial contact with the police shape conspiracy beliefs and protest-related violence. In Study 1 ( n = 424), more frequent positive contact with the police predicted greater perceptions of procedural justice and lower anger. These appraisals were associated with reduced police-related conspiracy beliefs, which in turn predicted lower intentions to engage in violence against the police during a protest. Study 2 ( N = 365) used an experimental design in which participants were randomly assigned to watch short-form social media videos (TikToks) depicting positive police–public interactions or a control condition. Exposure to the positive parasocial contact condition (vs. control) increased perceived procedural justice and reduced anger, which were again associated with lower conspiracy beliefs and violent protest intentions. Together, these studies suggest that both direct and parasocial positive contact can help reduce police-related conspiracy beliefs and the risk of violence during protest. These findings highlight how both everyday encounters and media-based engagement strategies may strengthen police–citizen relations, with implications for legitimacy, training, and communication practices.