NCJ Number
11395
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1973) Pages: 319-335
Date Published
1973
Length
17 pages
Annotation
STUDY FOCUSING ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLICE OFFICER SUBJECTS COOPERATE OR COMPETE WITH A PEER IN AN INTERPERSONAL SITUATION.
Abstract
FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE EXPERIMENT, THE INTERPERSONAL SITUATION WAS CONSTRUCTED THROUGH THE USE OF THE PRISONER'S DILEMMA, A GAME REFLECTING THE AMALGAM OF INTERPERSONAL AND INTRAPERSONAL CONFLICTS FOUND IN MANY SITUATIONS CONFRONTING POLICE OFFICERS. THE SPECIFIC COOPERATIVE BEHAVIORS CONSIDERED WERE TRUST AND TRUSTWORTHINESS AND THE COMPETITIVE BEHAVIORS WERE SUSPICION AND UNTRUSTWORTHINESS. THE SUBJECTS WERE 160 MALE PART-TIME STUDENTS AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PRESENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. A MAJOR FINDING OF THIS STUDY IS THAT POLICE OFFICERS MANIFESTING DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE PREFERENCES, WHEN PITTED AGAINST HIGHLY COOPERATIVE OR COMPETITIVE PARTNERS, DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE AMOUNT OF THE COOPERATIVE RESPONSES. SPECIFICALLY, POLICE OFFICERS MANIFESTING REACTION FORMATION COOPERATED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WITH COOPERATIVE PARTNERS THAN WITH COMPETITIVE PARTNERS, WHEREAS POLICE OFFICERS USING PROJECTION SHOWED NO DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LACK OF COOPERATIVENESS BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)