According to the analysis, what effect does perceived police legitimacy have on public cooperation during crises?

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Perceived police legitimacy boosts public cooperation during crises. When people view the police as legitimate—seen as fair, lawful, and acting with integrity—they trust official guidance and are more willing to follow directives, defer to authorities, and participate in collective actions. This trust lowers the perceived costs of cooperating and makes compliance the easier or more acceptable choice in stressful situations. So the best understanding is that legitimacy increases willingness to cooperate and defer to authorities when crises arise. The other ideas—no link, or that legitimacy leads to less cooperation or defiance—contradict the way trust in authority shapes cooperative behavior.