NCJ Number
125623
Date Published
1990
Length
58 pages
Annotation
A series of papers instructs police officers in the dynamics of fear in the course of police duties, the importance of admitting and analyzing such fear, and techniques for managing the fear constructively.
Abstract
The first paper examines the dynamics of police fear in critical incidents and draws implications for training and treatment. After outlining the six phases of the dynamics of fear, the paper advises that fear is only destructive when the officer becomes fixed on the threat to the point of powerlessness rather than upon means for countering the threat. The second paper also addresses the dynamics of police-related fears, with attention to the distinction between reasonable and unreasonable fears. Typical unreasonable fears of police officers are identified in an effort to prevent officers from making serious mistakes based upon the misperception of a threat. Another paper notes that in a threatening situation, officers are often afraid to use deadly force because they fear the consequences of making a wrong decision. Other papers emphasize the importance of officers facing their fears, analyzing them, and committing themselves to training that will condition them to address their fears constructively. Chapter bibliographies.