NCJ Number
35756
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 42 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 58-61
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY WHICH EXAMINED PATTERNS IN POLICE ACCIDENTS TO DETERMINE IF A RELATIONSHIP EXISTED BETWEEN THE OCCURRENCE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE 'BIORHYTHM' CYCLE OF THE OFFICER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Abstract
A THEORY OF RECENT INTEREST IN MANAGERIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AREAS PROPOSES THAT THE EXPLANATION FOR MANY ACCIDENTS IS A RESULT OF WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS AT IN TERMS OF HIS LIFE CYCLES. THIS THEORY, CALLED BIORHYTHM, SUGGESTS THAT EACH HUMAN BEING COMES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THREE BIORHYTHM CYCLES AT THE TIME OF BIRTH AND CONTINUES TO FUNCTION IN RELATION TO THESE CYCLES THROUGHOUT LIFE. BIORHYTHM CYCLES INCLUDE (1) A PHYSICAL CYCLE OF 23 DAYS DURATION, (2) A SENSITIVITY OR EMOTIONAL CYCLE OF 28 DAYS LENGTH, AND (3) AN INTELLECTUAL CYCLE OF 33 DAYS. IT HAS BEEN HYPOTHESIZED THAT PERSONS ARE MORE PRONE TO ACCIDENTS DURING CERTAIN TIMES IN THESE CYCLES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY ARE AT HIGH OR CHANGING POINTS IN A CYCLE. THIS STUDY UTILIZED A COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF ALL ACCIDENTS OCCURRING ON DUTY FOR THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1973. THE BIORHYTHM CYCLE OF EACH OFFICER WAS DETERMINED FOR EACH ACCIDENT, AND PATTERNS OF FREQUENCIES OF REPORTED ACCIDENTS FOR EACH DAY IN EACH BIORHYTHMIC CYCLE WERE EXAMINED WITHIN NINE CATEGORIES OF POLICE ACTIVITY: ARRESTS, DETENTION, INVESTIGATION, OFFICE AND STATION, PHYSICAL CONDITIONING, TRAFFIC DUTIES ON FOOT, TRAINING AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING, USE OF VEHICLES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT DURING THE HIGH POINT OF THE PHYSICAL CYCLE, OFFICERS EXPERIENCED MORE INJURIES DURING ARREST AND FEWER INJURIES DURING PHYSICAL TRAINING. THE PHYSICAL CYCLE WAS FOUND TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IN RELATION TO ACCIDENTS. IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STUDY ARE EXAMINED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)