NCJ Number
152247
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 22 Issue: 5 Dated: (1994) Pages: 459-466
Date Published
1994
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines a training module developed to help police officers manage their anger more effectively.
Abstract
Law enforcement personnel experience conflictive police-citizen encounters and criminal acts that may be anger-provoking and that may lead to maladaptive reactions by police officers. An anger management training module was developed to help police officers manage their anger more effectively. A pretest, posttest, and follow-up design was used to assess the effectiveness of this training. Ninety-two officers were randomly selected and assigned to a training or control group. The Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Profile of Mood States, and performance-related scores were used as outcome measures. Regression analyses yielded limited support for the training; however, a trend toward greater reductions in use of force arrests was found in trained officers. Differences in anger management patterns for male and female officers were found. There are commendations for training modifications and future research in sex differences in anger management for law enforcement personnel. Tables, acknowledgements, references