NCJ Number
208890
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 2004 Pages: 64-71
Editor(s)
William U. Weiss
Date Published
2004
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examines the relationship between obsessive-compulsive traits and the performance of police officers.
Abstract
Research has shown that obsessive-compulsive personality on the job can have detrimental effects. However, small amounts of these qualities could also be beneficial to an officer. This study tested the hypothesis that police officers with mild to moderate levels of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) traits should show positive performance as police officers rather than negative. Participants in the study consisted of 800 male and female police officers from Louisiana and surrounding States. The study looked for general significant correlations between personality assessment inventory (PAI) traits and performance. The results indicate that mild levels of OCD personality traits were significantly correlated with better performance for male officers. Findings for the different effects of OCD personality traits on men and women were mildly surprising, but not unexpected. Females might be under more stress than males, and therefore have more anxiety but it was not found that this stress pushes women past the peak. References