EFFECTS OF FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING ON POLICE BEHAVIOR AND LEVEL OF ANXIETY IN RESPONSE TO A DOMESTIC DISPUTE

• NCJ Number: 51039
• Author(s): M M AXELBERD
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 115 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN HANDLING A SIMULATED DOMESTIC DISPUTE IS ASSESSED TO TEST THE IMPACT OF A 40-HOUR FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM.

Abstract

FIFTY OFFICERS SELECTED RANDOMLY FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE MIAMI, FLA., AREA WERE ASSIGNED TO TWO COMPARISON GROUPS AND ONE TREATMENT GROUP. THE BEHAVIORAL SKILLS AND LEVELS OF ANXIETY EXHIBITED BY THE OFFICERS IN ROLE-PLAYED INTERVENTION IN A SIMULATED FAMILY CRISIS SITUATION WERE MEASURED. ONE COMPARISON GROUP WAS TESTED WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING. THE SECOND COMPARISON GROUP ALSO RECEIVED NO TRAINING, BUT DID RECEIVE WRITTEN HANDOUTS DESCRIBING TRAINING PROGRAM CONTENT. THE TREATMENT GROUP WAS TESTED AFTER COMPLETING THE TRAINING. TEST RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE TRAINING PROGRAM WAS EFFECTIVE IN TEACHING POLICE OFFICERS APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS FOR INTERVENTION IN DOMESTIC DISPUTES. THE TREATMENT GROUP SCORED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE COMPARISON GROUPS FOR ALL BEHAVIORAL SCALE ITEMS EXCEPT SAFETY. TRAINING DID NOT AFFECT ANXIETY LEVELS, POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE ROLE-PLAY SITUATION SIMPLY DID NOT ELICIT ANXIETY, BECAUSE THE OFFICERS DID NOT REPORT THEIR ANXIETY, OR BECAUSE THE OFFICERS HAD BECOME DISASSOCIATED FROM THEIR ANXIETY DUE TO THE NATURE OF THEIR JOB. SUPPORTING DATA, A LIST OF REFERENCES, AND COPIES OF STUDY INSTRUMENTS (INCLUDING A BEHAVIORAL SCALE FOR MEASURING POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN DOMESTIC DISPUTES) ARE INCLUDED.