NCJ Number
117440
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: (April 1989) Pages: 37-48
Date Published
1989
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Psychoanalytic theory is applied to police crisis situations involving the mentally disturbed.
Abstract
After noting shortcomings of the traditional, commonsensical ways of dealing with such individuals, a discussion of the strengths of a psychoanalytic method is presented. It is argued that police officers can achieve greater control in a psychiatric disturbance situation if they conceive of and treat the person more like a system of forces than a set of personality characteristics. Concrete examples are discussed illustrating the method advocated. (Author abstract)