NCJ Number
181514
Journal
Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2000 Pages: 107-121
Date Published
February 2000
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study investigates the effects of high speed driving and field independence on officers’ shooting behavior.
Abstract
Twenty-nine pairs of (British) Authorized Firearms Officers were briefed on an “incident” they would be asked to attend. Officers were instructed to drive at either patrol or high speed. On arrival at the simulated incident, officers were asked to respond to one of two scenarios: one in which the officer would be justified in shooting the suspect or one in which it would be difficult for the officer to justify shooting the suspect. High speed driving increased officers’ objective and subjective feelings of arousal and feelings of irritation towards the subject and reduced officers’ self-rated willingness to shoot the suspect. Field dependent officers were significantly more willing to shoot the suspect when it was legally justifiable. Speed of driving, role in the car (driver/passenger) and field independence had no significant main effect on officers’ shooting behavior either in the scenario where they were justified in shooting the suspect or in the scenario where it was difficult to justify shooting the suspect. Tables, figures, references