NCJ Number
45959
Journal
LEGAL POINTS Issue: 83 Dated: (1977)
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH BACKGROUND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IS PRESENTED. INTERNAL, EXTERNAL, INDIVIDUAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL SOURCES OF POLICE STRESS ARE IDENTIFIED.
Abstract
POLICE WORK IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF HIGH STRESS OCCUPATIONS WHICH HAS RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION FROM RESEARCHERS, POLICE ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE PUBLIC. OCCUPATIONAL STRESS RESULTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL, INTERPERSONAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE INCREASED ALCOHOLISM, DIVORCE, SUICIDE, SOMATIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS, INCREASED INTERNAL COMPLAINTS, AND REDUCED PRODUCTIVITY. DEALING SUCCESSFULLY WITH STRESS WILL REQUIRE AN INCREASED AWARENESS AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL OF THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR COPING WITH SUCH STRESS. PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IN AN EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT IMPOSES A DEMAND UPON THE INDIVIDUAL, THE RESOLUTION OF WHICH REQUIRES MENTAL ACTIVITY BEFORE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ANY OTHER SYSTEM. JOB STRESS REFERS TO A FACTOR OR COMBINATION OF FACTORS, RELATED TO WORK OR THE WORK ENVIRONMENT WHICH DISRUPTS THE WORKER'S PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EQUILIBRIUM. THESE DISRUPTIVE FACTORS ARE JOB STRESSORS. INDIVIDUAL REACTIONS TO STRESSORS WILL BE MEDIATED BY BIOCHEMICAL PATTERNS, BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS, AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS. STRESS POINTS AND STRESS REACTIONS WILL ALSO BE INFLUENCED BY PAST EXPERIENCES AND PREVIOUSLY UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS WHICH MAY UNCONSCIOUSLY MOTIVATE BEHAVIOR. STRESS INDUCES TENSION AND ANXIETY, STIMULATING CERTAIN ANXIETY-REDUCING BEHAVIORS WHICH MAY INCLUDE CRYING; LAUGHING; ANGER; SELF-DISCIPLINE; OR A DEPENDENCE ON FOOD, ALCOHOL, OR OTHER SELF-MEDICATIONS. UNREDUCED ANXIETY MAY RESULT IN GUILT, AGGRESSION, OR DEPRESSION. INTRAORGANIZATIONAL STRESSORS ARE SOURCES OF STRESS WITHIN THE POLICE AGENCY STEMMING FROM AGENCY CHARACTERISTICS, POLICIES, OR PRACTICES. SUCH STRESSORS MAY INCLUDE LACK OF SUPERVISION, LACK OF INDIVIDUAL DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY, PUNITIVE POLICIES FOR ERRORS, LACK OF COORDINATION AMONG DIVISIONS OR INDIVIDUALS, WORK OVERLOADS, RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORITY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES, LACK OF DEPARTMENTAL RESOURCES, LACK OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND JURISDICTIONAL ISOLATION. WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, CASE LAW, COURT APPEARANCE SCHEDULES, THE ADVERSARIAL PROCESS, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM MAY ALL BE SOURCES OF STRESS. POLICE WORK STRESSORS INCLUDE A LACK OF A WELL-DEFINED ROLE; NEGATIVE COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE, COMMUNITY/POLICE VALUE CONFLICTS; INEQUITIES IN SCHEDULING, PAY, OR STATUS; BOREDOM STEMMING FROM ROUTINE DUTIES; AND FREQUENT EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE, DEATH, AND OTHER CONFRONTATIONS WHICH ARE EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY DEBILITATING. ADDITIONAL STRESSORS INVOLVE THE ATTITUDES, PRACTICES, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEDIA, POLITICIANS, THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. PERSONAL FINANCIAL OR FAMILIAL PROBLEMS, IMMATURITY, IMPULSIVENESS, PARANOIA, THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A MASCULINE AND RIGID IMAGE, AND DEMANDS FOR CONFORMITY CAN ALSO BE SOURCES OF STRESS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICER. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. FOR PART 2 OF THIS ARTICLE, SEE NCJ-45967. (JAP)