NCJ Number
54833
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 152-172
Date Published
1978
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THE JUNGIAN CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK IS APPLIED TO ANALYSIS OF THE POLICE PERSONALITY AS MEASURED BY THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTI) TO SYNTHESIZE COMMON TRAITS FOUND BY OTHER RESEARCH AND TO ACT AS A PREDICTIVE TOOL.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO SEE IF THE MBTI IS A USEFUL TOOL IN TRAINING, COUNSELING, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE. THE MBTI IS A 166-ITEM, NONPATHOLOGICAL, SELF-DISCLOSURE INSTRUMENT DESIGNED TO IMPLEMENT JUNG'S THEORY OF TYPE. ACCORDING TO MBTI THEORY, AN INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONALITY STRUCTURE DEVELOPS FROM FOUR BASIC PREFERENCES, EACH PROVIDING TWO ALTERNATIVE CHOICES. THE PAIRING OF ALTERNATIVES ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) EXTROVERSION OR INTROVERSION, (2) SENSORY OR INTUITION, (3) THINKING OR FEELING, AND (4) JUDGMENT OR PERCEPTION. ALTOGETHER, 16 PERSONALITY TYPES ARE POSSIBLE UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK. THIS STUDY HAD AS ITS SAMPLE 1,282 VETERAN AND RECRUIT POLICE OFFICERS FROM MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA. A COMPOSITE CHART SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICE OFFICERS INTO THE TYPE CATEGORIES IS PRESENTED. THE MOST POPULAR CATEGORY WAS THE EXTROVERTED, SENSING, THINKING, JUDGING TYPE (20.7 PERCENT). OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE GROUP SHOWED A PREFERENCE FOR THE SENSING-THINKING COMBINATION. CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO THE EXTROVERTED THINKERS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) ANALYTICAL AND IMPERSONAL, (2) GOOD AT ORGANIZING, (3) DECISIVE, (4) PRONE TO VALUE TRUTH IN THE FORM OF FACT, FORMULA, AND METHOD, AND (5) LIKELY TO HAVE AN ACCIDENTAL EMOTIONAL LIFE AND AN INCIDENTAL SOCIAL LIFE. CHARACTER TRAITS OF THE OTHER PERSONALITY TRAIT PAIRINGS ARE ALSO PRESENTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CERTAIN PERSONALITY TYPES APPEAR TO DOMINATE IN THE POLICE POPULATION, AND THE SUBCULTURE WHICH DEVELOP AROUND THESE PERSONALITIES IS SEEN AS REMARKABLY CONSISTENT DESPITE VARIATIONS IN SIZE AND ORGANIZATION OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)