Police Personality - Psychological Consequences of Being a Police Officer

• NCJ Number: 86505
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1982) Pages: 344-347
• Author(s): K R C Adlam
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A British study consisting of interviews of a large sample of inspectors and chief inspectors shows that most officers conclude that they have been affected by their career in the police service both in their personalities and social attitudes.

Abstract

A review of the studies of police personalities reveals flaws in the research designs, and the images of man the researchers have assumed are useful as analytical tools but are too limited for dealing with the actual police officer. Further, most of the research is American, and results may not apply to other countries. Also, there is still a sparseness in comprehensive data on a large representative sample of police officers, both in America and in Europe. A recent British study of a large sample of inspectors and chief inspectors attending courses at Bramshill supplied data on officers' self-perception, perception of the influence of the police role and police culture upon 'self,' and social attitudes. The subjects generally fell into the following categories: (1) those who do not feel they have been affected by becoming a police officer (a small minority), (2) those who feel they have been affected by police service and who have an 'on-duty' personality which differs from their 'off-duty' personality (a small minority), (3) those who have been affected by the police service but have interwoven these 'new' elements into a 'core' personality (a large minority), and (4) those who have been dramatically affected by police service and who have developed a new personality which extends into off-duty life (a small minority). Common themes of personality changes after becoming officers are a gradual increase in self-confidence and assertiveness, an emotional 'hardening,' and either more or less dogmatic. Police officers also tend to become manipulative, have a traditional set of masculine outlooks, and have generally conservative persepctives of social values and minority groups. Sixteen references are listed.