NCJ Number
74203
Journal
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS Volume: 7 Issue: 6 Dated: (November-December 1980) Pages: 24-26
Date Published
1980
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The results of a study to determine whether bullet-proof vests make police officers more aggressive and foolhardy are reported. The study involved psycho-physiological experiments testing the concept of body-image on some of the New York City's transit police officers.
Abstract
The concept of body image is the psychological experience which focuses on the individual's attitude toward his own body. Police officers who patrolled the high-crime area encompassing the West Bronx were subjects for the study. The subjects were divided into two groups: those with bulletproof vests (experimental) and those without vests (control). Five variables were tested: (1) barrier, or sense of limit or boundary; (2) penetration, or the sense of a lack of substance, weakness, and penetrability of boundaries; (3) hostility, (4) aggression, and (5) death anxiety. An inkblot projective test, which tapped most of the crucial aspects of body-image, and a Death Anxiety Scale were administered to both groups. The results showed no measurable variation between the barrier and penetration scores of the two groups. However, because the experimental group had lower hostility scores than did the control group, researchers concluded that officers wearing vests were more likely to control their aggressive behavior. In addition, the experimental group scored considerable lower on the Death Anxiety Scale. Two inkblot charts and eight footnotes are included.