NCJ Number
29914
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 62 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1975) Pages: 48-53
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE ATTEMPTS TO SHOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF UNSATISFACTORY MARRIAGE IN ITS RELATION TO POLICE PRODUCTIVITY AND THE QUALITY OF POLICE PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
SINCE THEY MAINTAIN THAT THE ACTUAL DIVORCE RATE IS NOT THE ONLY INDEX BY WHICH COMPARISON SHOULD BE MADE, THE AUTHORS TRY TO IDENTIFY SOME OTHER INDICES FOR PREDICTION AND ANALYSES OF JOB PRODUCTIVITY AND SATISFACTION WHEN COMPARED TO MARITAL SUCCESS OR FAILURE. TO TEST THEIR THEORY THAT SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A MARRIAGE DEPENDS TO A SUBSTANTIAL DEGREE ON THE FULFILLMENT OF EXPECTATIONS, TWO QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO A GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR WIVES. ONE ASKED RESPONDENTS TO ENUMERATE SPOUSE EXPECTATIONS AND THE OTHER ASKED THEM TO INDICATE THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO EACH EXPECTATION AND THE CORRESPONDING DEGREE OF FULFILLMENT ACTUALLY REALIZED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ONCE POINTS OF DISPARITY ARE RECOGNIZED, EITHER THE 'EXPECTOR,' 'THE EXPECTEE,' OR THE ORGANIZATION AFFECTING THE PRESSURE ON THE FULFILLMENT LEVELS COULD MAKE AN ADAPTATION TO REDUCE THE VARIANCE AND THEREFORE THE CONFLICT. RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO COMBAT ORGANIZATIONAL INEFFECTIVENESS CAUSED BY DIVORCE AND MARITAL CONFLICT INCLUDE THE APPOINTMENT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT PSYCHOLOGIST TO COUNSEL OFFICERS REGARDING CONFLICTS AFFECTING JOB PERFORMANCE, LECTURES AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO FAMILIARIZE WIVES OF BOTH RECRUITS AND EXPERIENCED OFFICERS WITH THE POLICE OCCUPATION, AND A COURSE OF SUPERVISORY INSTRUCTION DEALING WITH MARITAL CONFLICTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.