PSYCHOLOGICAL STRAINS IMPOSED ON THE YOUNG POLICE OFFICER BY HIS ACTIVE POLICE DUTIES

• NCJ Number: 52980
• Journal: Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 344-355
• Author(s): W SCHMOLZ
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Postfach 48 02 30
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: REVISED VERSION OF A PAPER GIVEN AT THE POLICE ACADEMY, MUENSTER, WEST GERMANY

Annotation

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY YOUNG WEST GERMAN POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ARE OUTLINED.

Abstract

ADJUSTMENT DIFFICULTIES OF YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS ARE CAUSED BY PHYSICAL PUBERTY (DEVELOPING SEXUALITY), SOCIAL PUBERTY (ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE), AND EMOTIONAL PUBERTY (RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS AND ABILITY TO DEAL WITH FREEDOM) AS WELL AS THE ATTITUDE OF OLDER CITIZENS THAT YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED OFFICERS HAVE NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE IN THE AFFAIRS OF OLDER INDIVIDUALS. TRAINING DIFFICULTIES ARISE FROM THE NECESSITY OF SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT IN THE NEW SITUATION AND FROM COMMUNICATION BARRIERS BOTH IN THE NEW SOCIAL ORDER AND IN MODERN SOCIETY IN GENERAL. EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES INCLUDE, ANXIETY ABOUT POLICE EXAMINATIONS, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT SUITABILITY FOR THE PROFESSION, FEAR OF FAILING TO PERFORM PERFECTLY IN THE TRAINING PERIOD, FEAR OF INABILITY TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT THE TRAINER. YOUNG OFFICERS MOST COMMONLY FEEL APPREHENSION ABOUT HAVING TO INTERVENE IN CASES INVOLVING FAMILY OR FRIENDS, TO USE FIREARMS, TO ENCOUNTER DEATH DIRECTLY, TO ACT IN BEHALF OF THE POLICE WHEN PERSONAL SYMPATHIES FAVOR THE OTHER SIDE, TO MAINTAIN SELF-CONTROL, TO REMAIN ISOLATED FROM THE PUBLIC, AND TO JUSTIFY THEIR CHOICE OF PROFESSION. ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS AS SEEN FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OLDER OFFICERS ARE DISAGREEMENTS WITH OLDER CITIZENS, ARROGANCE RESULTING FROM FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY, EXCESSIVE ATTENTION TO UNIMPORTANT PROBLEMS AS A MEANS OF ESCAPING UNCERTAINTY, AND DEPENDENCE ENCOURAGED BY RELATIONSHIPS OF THE FATHER-SON TYPE WITH OLDER OFFICERS. ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO COUNTERACT THESE PROBLEMS BY PSYCHOLOGICAL INSTRUCTION DURING BASIC TRAINING, STABILIZATION OF YOUNG OFFICERS THROUGH IDENTIFICATION WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT, LEARNED BEHAVIOR PATTERNS WHICH PROVIDE SECURITY TO THE OFFICERS, TRAINING IN CONTROLLING VIOLENT REACTIONS AND IN DEALING WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS OF PRACTICE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING MODULES FOR THE PROBLEMS CITED AND OF CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS RELATING TO THE REALITIES OF POLICE WORK. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)