NCJ Number
64546
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: COMPLETE ISSUE
Editor(s)
A C PITCHER
Date Published
1980
Length
76 pages
Annotation
VARIOUS TOPICS RELATING TO POLICE STRESS ARE DISCUSSED IN A SPECIAL MAGAZINE ISSUE. SPECIFIC SUBJECTS INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FAMILY CONFLICTS, SOURCES OF STRESS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR POLICE.
Abstract
AN ARTICLE ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF STRESS TO POLICE WORK INCLUDES A REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND DISCUSSES SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS. THESE INCLUDE RELAXATION AND MEDITATION, PREPARATION FOR CHANGE, BIOFEEDBACK, EXERCISE, DIET, AND RELEASE OF EMOTIONS. A SERIES OF STEPS THAT A POLICE DEPARTMENT MIGHT TAKE TO ADDRESS AND DELINEATE STRESS PROBLEMS ARE OUTLINED, WITH DETAILED PROCEDURES AND ORDER OF OPERATIONS. A SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR DISCUSSES THE ROLE CONFLICTS INHERENT IN POLICE WORK. OFFICERS MUST PLAY THE ROLE AS TAUGHT THEM IN THE ACADEMY AND BEHAVE AS POLICE OFFICERS EXPECT THEM TO ACT, AS CITIZENS EXPECT THEM TO ACT, AND AS THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD ACT AS MEN. A PAPER ON THE SOURCES OF STRESS WITHIN A POLICE ORGANIZATION NOTES THAT SATISFYING INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS MAY REDUCE OR MINIMIZE FRUSTRATION AND STRESS. THEREFORE, POLICE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS SHOULD MOTIVATE, PERIODICALLY EVALUATE, AND SATISFY THEIR PERSONNEL. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR OF STRESS FOR POLICE IS INACTIVITY, TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO PREPARE POLICE OFFICERS TO MAINTAIN AN INDIVIDUAL PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM. STRESS-RELATED MARITAL PROBLEMS OCCUR IN MANY POLICE FAMILIES. A POLICE PSYCHOLOGIST DESCRIBES THE IMPACT ON POLICE WIVES OF A SEMINAR ON STRESS, THE MARRIAGE PARTNER PROGRAM OF THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT (MISSOURI). OTHER METHODS TO PREVENT POLICE STRESS INCLUDE COUPLES COMMUNICATION TRAINING, PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES UNITS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND USE OF AN IN-HOUSE PSYCHOLOGIST. OTHER TOPICS ADDRESSED ARE MINIMIZING THE RISKS OFFICERS ENCOUNTER, PARTICULARLY DURING TRAFFIC 'STOPS;' THE SOURCES AND EFFECTS OF POLICE ISOLATION; DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS; PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF POLICE-CITIZEN CONFRONTATIONS; METHODS OF PREVENTING AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE; AND DISCRETIONARY DECISIONMAKING IN THE FIELD. REFERENCES, A TABLE, AND SOME DIAGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)