Unveiling Institutional Logics in Military Policing: Development and Validation of the PIL-M Scale, Including the Obscure Vigilante Logic

Abstract This study proposes the operationalization of the multidimensional construct of Military-Type Police Institutional Logics (PIL-M) by presenting the construction and validation of the PIL-M Scale in three consecutive studies. The scale is a new instrument for measuring latent institutional logics within Brazilian military police organizations. In Study 1, qualitative research ( N = 17) generated 80 items. In Study 2, in two phases, we conducted a content validity and instrument reduction ( N = 5), tested the internal structure, and verified the psychometric reliability in a large sample of military police officers ( n = 379), which enabled the identification of five institutional logics: military, bureaucratic, legalist, community, and vigilante. Study 3 ( n = 137) examined the nomological network, revealing relations with work and organization variables (workplace dignity, social identity, and psychological safety). These findings provide a robust basis for predicting police behavior and offer guidance for public-security reforms. The identification of the distinct “Vigilante Logic” highlights internal tensions in professional identity and uncovers hidden dimensions that may influence extralegal practices. Overall, the study advances the understanding of institutional complexity in law enforcement and supports the development of more human-centered and effective policing strategies.