NCJ Number
88965
Journal
Sociology Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (1982) Pages: 1-11
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study administered the Wilson-Patterson Attitude Inventory, Eysenck's Social and Political Attitude Inventory, Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale, and the Lee-Warr Balanced F Scale to the following British subjects: 48 police recruits at the beginning and end of their basic training, 36 probationer constables with an average of 20 months' experience, and 30 control subjects matched with police in socioeconomic status.
Abstract
All subjects also gave open-ended responses to questions on controversial issues. Compared with controls, recruits' and probationers' scores were significantly more conservative and authoritarian, and the probationers' opened-ended responses on the death penalty and black immigration were rated significantly more intolerant than either recruits or controls. Among recruits, basic training was followed by a reduction in conservatism and authoritarianism. Findings suggest that the police force attracts conservative and authoritarian personalities, that basic training has a temporarily liberalizing effect, and that continued police service results in increasingly intolerant attitudes toward black immigration. A table, 16 references, and a few notes are supplied. (Author abstract modified)