NCJ Number
75129
Journal
Australian Police Journal Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1980) Pages: 248-261
Date Published
1980
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This Australian article written for police officers identifies sources of stress for police suggests personal and departmental actions to alleviate the problem, and encourages research into the causes of stress through the cooperation of law enforcement agencies and social scientists.
Abstract
The sources of stress that can be readily identified are the nature of the job, shiftwork, boredom, failure to solve crimes, release of offenders by courts, alienation from the community, and little or no support from family or colleagues. In addition, poor management and supervision can create stress. The existence of stress must not be assumed in all cases; stress must be balanced against positive feeling or achievements of individuals with respect to police work as well as the psychological makeup of individuals. Police departments an help to reduce stress by helping their members maintain a proper balance between work and personal lives, and by providing psychological support for officers. Individual officers can do much to reduce stress by recognizing their own limitations, and seeking to overcome them or deal with them with professional help. Techniques used to relieve stress external to formal medical treatment can be relaxation techniques, allied where appropriate to hypnosis; planned recreational activities; the use of encounter groups for self-awareness; yoga; transcendental meditation; biofeedback; prayer; and exercises. Signs that indicate undue pressure is being placed upon a person include medical illness; a facial 'tic' or twitching; a tendency to undue irritability; a compulsion to excessive eating, drinking, or indulgence in sexual satisfactions; or undue preoccupation with an absorbing interest, with insufficient attention being paid to recreation, friends, or family. One footnote is included.