STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR THE FEMALE OFFICER (FROM JOB STRESS AND THE POLICE OFFICER - IDENTIFYING STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES - PROCEEDINGS OF SYMPOSIUM, 1975 BY W H KROES, AND J J HURRELL, JR - SEE NCJ-43642)

• NCJ Number: 43646
• Author(s): B WASHINGTON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THE SYMPOSIUM WAS HELD IN CINCINNATI, OHIO ON MAY 8 & 9, 1975, AND CHAIRED BY DR WILLIAM H KROES

Annotation

PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING A WOMAN'S ABILITY TO PERFORM AS A POLICE OFFICER ARE DISCUSSED, AND METHODS OF REDUCING ON-THE-JOB STRESS EXPERIENCED BY FEMALE OFFICERS ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

WOMEN ARE GENERALLY WEAKER PHYSICALLY THAN MEN. IDENTIFYING DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL AGILITY AND PERFORMANCE BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN CAN HELP POLICE TRAINING STAFF TO DEVELOP TECHNIQUES THAT WILL BUILD ON EACH OFFICER'S PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES. THE TRADITIONAL VIEW THAT WOMEN ARE TOO EMOTIONAL AND LACKING IN OBJECTIVITY TO HANDLE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSES INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS COME INTO QUESTION. LIKE THE MALE OFFICER, THE FEMALE OFFICER'S EMOTIONAL STABILITY IS A MATTER NOT ONLY OF WHAT SHE FEELS DURING STRESSFUL SITUATIONS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OF WHAT SHE DOES TO ADAPT TO THOSE SITUATIONS. FEMALE OFFICERS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT, BECAUSE VERY FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY A WOMAN WISHES TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, IT IS FUTILE FOR THE FEMALE OFFICER TO JUDGE HERSELF COMPLETELY BY OTHERS' STANDARDS. FEMALE OFFICERS ALSO NEED TO DECIDE WHAT IS MORALLY RIGHT AND WRONG FOR THEMSELVES, TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS LAWFULLY RIGHT AND WRONG, AND TO LEARN TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS. FEMALE OFFICERS MUST ALSO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEIR PROFESSION WILL PERVADE THEIR LIVES. AMONG THE STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP FEMALE OFFICERS PREPARE FOR THEIR ROLES ARE THE FOLLOWING: (1) INTRODUCTION OF SUPERIOR-INFERIOR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEW OFFICERS AND TRAINING OFFICERS TO FAMILIARIZE THE FORMER WITH THE SEMIMILITARISTIC POLICE ORGANIZATION; (2) EXPERIENCE WITH LOUD, HARSH DISCIPLINE TO ACCUSTOM THE FEMALE OFFICER TO VERBAL ABUSE; (3) STRENUOUS PHYSICAL TRAINING; (4) COMMAND AND CONTROL PRACTICE; (5) TEAMWORK EXPERIENCE WITH MALE OFFICERS; (6) EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING STRESSFUL SITUATIONS ALONE; AND (7) MOCK COURTROOM DRAMATIZATION. A LIST OF REFERENCES AND A TABLE SHOWING PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR AGILITY TESTS ARE INCLUDED.