NCJ Number
7250
Date Published
1963
Length
335 pages
Annotation
AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE ACCEPTANCE OF CORRUPTION AND BRUTALITY BY THE POLICEMAN IN SOCIOLOGICAL TERMS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES POLICE CYNICISM AS A STAGE OF LATENCY WHICH IS A CRITICAL TURNING POINT ON THE CONTINUUM LEADING FROM COMMITMENT TO ANOMIE. CYNICISM IS VIEWED AS A DEFENSE MECHANISM WHICH ABSORBS THE SHOCK OF FAILURE AND FRUSTRATION, ALLOWING A MEASURE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AGGRESSION WHICH WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE IN ANY OTHER FORM. FOUR SOURCES OF CYNICISM ARE IDENTIFIED, BUT EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THE PROBLEM. PROFESSIONALISM IS PURPORTED TO BE THE BEST MEANS OF COMBATTING CYNICISM, BUT IRONICALLY IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROPONENTS OF PROFESSIONALISM STRESS HIGHER EDUCATION AS A PANACEA FOR THE DEFECTS IN THE SYSTEM. THOSE POLICEMEN LACKING SUCH EDUCATION DEFEND THEMSELVES BY JOINING THE SUBCULTURE OF CYNICISM. (MODIFIED AUTHOR ABSTRACT).