Anatomy of Stress (From Psychological Services for Law Enforcement, P 483-487, 1986, J Reese and H A Goldstein, eds. - See NCJ-104098)

• NCJ Number: 104127
• Author(s): V E Parr
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/NCJRS; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-104098.

Annotation

Police stress is not due to the nature of the work but to the failure of officers to deal with their anger, anxiety, depression, and guilt in a rational way.

Abstract

Police stress could be relieved by replacing a therapy of emotional expression with one of rational emotional management. Stress is due to an emotional response to a stimulus so that the response blocks satisfaction or peace of mind. Relief from stress occurs when the emotions are rationally managed to increase satisfaction. Anger, anxiety, depression, and guilt are the principal barriers to peace of mind. These mind sets can be managed by proceeding through certain cognitive processes that can change the beliefs and perceptions that generate the debilitating emotions. This paper outlines the cognitive processes for defusing anger, anxiety, depression, and guilt. It also advocates certain changes in police work that will reduce some stimuli that typically generate stress in police officers, recommending a national standard for shift rotation, seniority benefits, psychological testing, the use of the polygraph with officers, and training. 4 references.