NCJ Number
35403
Date Published
1975
Length
172 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY INVESTIGATES THE VALIDITY OF A SOCIALIZATION HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAIN PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES AMONG ENGLISH POLICE CONSTABLES WHO HAD HELD THAT RANK FOR ONE WEEK, TEN WEEKS, EIGHTEEN MONTHS, AND FIVE YEARS.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO THE FOUR SUBJECT GROUPS TO DETERMINE PERSONAL INFORMATION, NEEDS, VALUES, AND PERCEPTIONS OF ROLE RELATED AUDIENCES. THE ANALYSIS OF THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT POLICE OFFICERS TEND TO EXPERIENCE A FAIRLY LONG PERIOD OF ANTICIPATORY SOCIALIZATION, WHICH EXTENDS TO YEARS IN SOME CASES. DIFFERENCES IN CERTAIN MEASURED 'NEED' SCORES AND 'VALUES' OCCURRED BETWEEN TIME GROUPS. THE PATTERN OF DIFFERENCES TENDED TO BE PROGRESSIVE AND CONSISTENT BETWEEN THE TIME GROUPS, WHICH LENDS CREDENCE TO THE SOCIALIZATION HYPOTHESIS. FINALLY, IN GENERAL, POLICE OFFICERS IN THE FIVE YEAR GROUP HELD A MORE UNFAVOURABLE PERCEPTION OF THEIR ROLE RELATED AUDIENCES THAN OFFICERS IN THE ONE-WEEK GROUP. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)