NCJ Number
10826
Date Published
1973
Length
194 pages
Annotation
PSYCHOLOGICAL QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS IN LAY LANGUAGE, PROVIDING POLICE OFFICERS WITH A WORKING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN MOTIVATIONS AND BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE MODERN POLICE OFFICER PLAYS A COMPLEX ROLE, ONE WHICH REQUIRES HIM TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EXISTING WRITTEN LAW AND THE CHANGING VALUES AND VARIANT SUBCULTURES OF SOCIETY. HE THUS NEEDS TO EXPAND HIS WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY IF HE IS TO FUNCTION AS AN EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL. THE AUTHOR'S CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROVIDING THAT WORKING KNOWLEDGE, PRESENTED HERE, ARE THE RESULT OF HIS WORK AS THE DEPARTMENT PSYCHOLOGIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE 1968. DR REISER ANALYZES PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS WHICH THE POLICEMAN OFTEN FACES BECAUSE OF STRESS AND HAZARDS UNIQUE TO POLICE WORK. THE POLICEMAN'S POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE AND EMOTIONAL STABILITY ARE SEEN AS THE IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS TO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE HE MUST SERVE. INSIGHTS INTO THE INNOVATIONS AND PROBLEMS OF OTHERS ARE FURNISHED IN CHAPTERS DEALING WITH SUCH AREAS AS PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS, FAMILY CRISES, AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE POLICEMAN'S BEHAVIOR IN THE CONTEXT OF SPECIFIC STRESS SITUATIONS IS ALSO PRESENTED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AUTHOR EXPLORES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POLICEMAN'S AUTHORITY ROLE WHEN PROVOKED OR CHALLENGED BY A POSSIBLE SUSPECT ON THE STREET. A CONCLUDING CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE OFFICER'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH, ONCE AGAIN STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-AWARENESS AND POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE. BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR SEARCH SUBJECT AREA ARE INCLUDED. (SNI ABSTRACT)