NCJ Number
36476
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 181-198
Date Published
1976
Length
18 pages
Annotation
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS WORKSHOP DESIGNED TO ASSIST POLICE PERSONNEL IN DEALING WITH OCCUPATIONAL PRESSURES WHICH LEAD TO POLICE ABUSE OR POLICE INEFFICIENCY.
Abstract
THE WORKSHOP CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF INTERLOCKING ACTIVITIES IN WHICH TRAINEES ARE PUT UNDER A HIGH DEGREE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE TO EXAMINE THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THEIR OCCUPATIONAL ROLE. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE COGNITIVE INPUT RELATIVE TO JOB PERFORMANCE AND THEN, IN ROLE-PLAYING SITUATIONS, ARE FORCED TO PUT IDEAS INTO ACTION. ACTIVITIES ARE TIMED AND EXECUTED SO AS TO STIMULATE PARTICIPANTS TO TRY TO DEVELOP AN OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY OF BEING A PERSON WHO IS ACTIVE, WHO TAXES INITIATIVE, WHO DISPLAYS LEADERSHIP, AND WHO DOES NOT RESPOND TO EVENTS WHICH, IF BLINDLY REACTED TO, WOULD FRUSTRATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HIS OFFICIAL OBJECTIVES. THE TOTAL WORKSHOP IS DESIGNED TO LAST 64 HOURS - APPROXIMATELY TWO FULL WORKING WEEKS - AND WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES FALL INTO THREE CLUSTERS: LABORATORY SESSIONS, IN WHICH TRAINEES PLAY THE PART OF POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO ASSORTED INCIDENTS; THEORY SESSIONS, AND PERSONALITY MEASUREMENT SESSIONS. DAILY MORNING THEORY SESSIONS CONSIST OF A PACKAGE OF LECTURES AND READINGS IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. THE GOAL OF THE PERSONALITY MEASUREMENT SESSION IS TO STIMULATE PARTICIPANTS - VIA STRUCTURED COMPARISONS OF THEMSELVES WITH OTHER PEOPLE - TO THINK ABOUT THEIR GENERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND IDENTITY. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ACCREDITED BY THE CHICAGO CITY COLLEGE AS A CREDIT BEARING COURSE FOR ALL CHICAGO POLICE RECRUITS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.