Demeanour, Cruel Optimism, and Police-Victim Relations in Domestic Violence

Introduction to the Sociology of Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice Entrances

This topic explores the sociological dynamics of how victims of domestic violence interact with the criminal justice system, focusing on the concept of demeanour and the relational expectations between victims and police. The chapter draws on sociological theories by Erving Goffman and Lauren Berlant to analyze how social interactions, expectations, and disappointments shape the experiences of victims seeking justice.

• Victims as Entrants: Victims, like accused persons, are entrants into the criminal justice system, facing unique barriers and "soft" factors influencing their access.

• Demeanour: The perceived behaviour and presentation of the victim, especially during initial police encounters, is crucial in determining whether their case is pursued.

• Dialogic Relationship: Demeanour is not just an individual trait but emerges from social interaction between police and victims.

• Cruel Optimism: Victims often enter the system with high expectations, only to face disappointment when institutions fail to deliver promised support.

Obligations, Expectations, and Social Interaction (Goffman’s Theory)

Erving Goffman’s framework distinguishes between obligations (how individuals are morally constrained to act) and expectations (how others are morally bound to act toward them). These rules of conduct are largely subconscious and situation-specific, shaping both self-perception and social roles.

• Obligations: Internalized rules guiding individual behaviour (e.g., victims expected to be cooperative).

• Expectations: Anticipated behaviours from others (e.g., police expected to be compassionate).

• Complementarity: Deference and demeanour are mutually regulatory; acts of deference (e.g., addressing police respectfully) are intended to elicit certain demeanour from police.

• Failure of Expectations: When obligations or expectations are unmet, individuals may exit the system or face negative consequences.

Example: A victim who addresses police with respect may expect leniency or assistance, but if the police do not reciprocate, disappointment and distrust may result.

Cruel Optimism (Berlant’s Theory)

Lauren Berlant’s concept of cruel optimism describes the attachment to hopeful expectations that are rarely fulfilled, especially within liberal-capitalist institutions. Victims of domestic violence often experience this when they believe police intervention will improve their situation, only to find that the reality falls short.

• Optimistic Attachment: The belief that proximity to institutions (like police) will bring positive change.

• Routine Disappointment: The failure of institutions to meet expectations is a mundane, recurring feature of social life.

• Impact on Demeanour: Unfulfilled expectations lead to affective responses such as resentment, antagonism, and loss of faith in the justice system.

Example: Victims who call police expecting safety and support often find themselves unsupported, leading to feelings of betrayal.

Policing Victims’ Entrances: Institutional Promises and Reality

Police departments publicly encourage victims to report domestic violence, promising support, safety, and justice. However, research and interviews reveal that these promises are often not fulfilled, and victims frequently lack information about their rights and available services.

• Institutional Mandates: Police claim to prioritize victim care and community safety.

• Special Training: Officers are said to receive training in domestic violence, creating expectations of understanding and nuanced response.

• Reality: Many victims report that promised services and support are not provided, and their optimism is shattered.

Example: Victims often learn about their rights and services from researchers, not police, indicating a gap between institutional promises and practice.

Demeanour on Trial: Courtroom Testimony and Credibility

The courtroom is a key site where victim and police demeanour are scrutinized. Judges and juries assess credibility based on how victims present themselves, often privileging logical, linear, and calm testimony. This process is influenced by broader gender norms and expectations.

• Hierarchy of Credibility: The courtroom often situates women’s lived realities at the bottom, requiring victims to perform as "good witnesses."

• Ideal Victim: Calm, passive, and honest demeanour is expected; deviation leads to suspicion and allegations of misleading the court.

• Recanting Victims: Victims who recant their testimony challenge the system, often motivated by fear or disappointment in the justice process.

Example: In R. v. Bishop and R. v. P.G., victims initially cooperated but later recanted, revealing the cruel optimism and juridogenic dangers of engaging with the justice system.

How the Police Appear: Victim Perspectives and Social Interaction

Victims’ experiences with police are shaped by their expectations and the actual demeanour of officers. Positive interactions are rare; most victims report disappointment, lack of support, and even judgment or blame from police.

• Initial Optimism: Victims expect police to provide safety and guidance.

• Disappointment: When police fail to meet obligations, victims lose faith and may avoid future contact.

• Negative Encounters: Police disbelief, judgment, and lack of empathy are common, leading to feelings of betrayal and vulnerability.

• Gendered Expectations: Victims feel pressured to conform to feminine stereotypes to be seen as credible; self-defense may result in their own arrest.

Example: Victims with visible injuries are more likely to be believed; those without visible signs or who defend themselves may be doubted or arrested.

Conclusion: From Economies of Hope to Relations of Distrust

Victims of domestic violence enter the criminal justice system with hope, but often experience disappointment as police and institutions fail to meet expectations. This leads to a shift from optimism to distrust, affecting future interactions and willingness to seek help.

• Relationality: Demeanour is shaped by interactions between victims and police, not just individual conduct.

• Entrances and Exits: Access to justice is closely linked to the likelihood of exiting the system due to unmet expectations.

• Systemic Failure: The justice system routinely fails to deliver on its optimistic promises, reinforcing cycles of disappointment and distrust.

Example: Victims advise others to seek help from hospitals rather than police, reflecting their loss of faith in the justice system.

Key Sociological Terms and Concepts

• Demeanour: The outward behaviour or bearing of an individual, especially as perceived by others in social interactions.

• Deference: Respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, or will of another.

• Cruel Optimism: Attachment to hopeful expectations that are unlikely to be fulfilled, leading to disappointment.

• Hierarchy of Credibility: The ranking of individuals or groups based on perceived trustworthiness or authority, often influenced by social norms and biases.

• Ideal Victim: A social construct of the "perfect" victim, often passive, honest, and conforming to gender norms.

• Juridogenic Harm: Harm caused by the legal process itself, rather than the original crime.

Summary Table: Expectations vs. Reality in Police-Victim Interactions

Additional info:

• Intersectionality (race, Indigeneity) is acknowledged as relevant but not deeply analyzed in the chapter due to data limitations.

• Cases such as R. v. Bishop and R. v. P.G. illustrate the complexities of victim-police interactions and courtroom dynamics.

• Victims’ presentation of self is influenced by broader societal expectations, especially regarding gender roles.