PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF POLICEMEN - A REVIEW OF RESEARCH AND OPINION

• NCJ Number: 31836
• Journal: Journal of Social Issues Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1975) Pages: 3-26
• Author(s): J LEFKOWITZ
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

IN THIS LITERATURE REVIEW AND CRITIQUE, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE RESEARCH ON THE EXISTENCE OF A DISTINCT POLICE PERSONALITY AND SUMMARIZES THE RELEVANT LITERATURE ON THOSE TRAITS THOUGHT TO CHARACTERIZE POLICE.

Abstract

AMONG THE POLICE CHARACTERISTICS CONSIDERED IN THE RESEARCH REVIEW ARE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, INTELLIGENCE, ISOLATION AND SECRECY, DEFENSIVENESS, CYNICISM, VIOLENCE, AUTHORITARIANISM, CONSERVATISM, MISPERCEPTION OF PUBLIC OPINIONS, AND ANTI-MINORITY PREJUDICE. RESEARCH ON THE MOTIVATION TO BECOME A POLICEMAN IS ALSO EXAMINED. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE DATA SUBSTANTIATE, WITH SOME QUALIFICATIONS, THE EXISTENCE OF A NONPATHOLOGICAL 'MODAL POLICE PERSONALITY.' HE NOTES THAT METHOLODOGICAL WEAKNESS OF THESE STUDIES PREVENTS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIVE DEVELOPMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF PREDISPOSING SELF-SELECTION EFFECTS, SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS DETERMINANTS, ORGANIZATIONAL SELECTION AND SELECTIVE ATTRITION, OCCUPATIONAL SOCIALIZATION, AND ROLE-SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)