Psychological Characteristics of Successful SWAT/Tactical Response Team Personnel

• NCJ Number: 159171
• Journal: Journal of Police and Criminal Psychological Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (1995) Pages: 60-63
• Author(s): J T Super
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study identified personality traits and characteristics that best predicted successful performance in Special Weapons and Tactical Teams (SWAT).

Abstract

Thirty-four male part-time SWAT personnel completed a battery of psychological tests including the Wonderlic Personality Test, the California Psychological Inventory, and the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Organization-Behavior. The results showed that SWAT members tended to be of average intelligence, productive and task-focused, ambitious and inclined to take charge in emergency situations, and to be guided by external norms and expectations. The 10 best- and 10 worst-rated officers from this sample were then rated on their ability to take direction, judgment to address critical situations, and ability and willingness to participate in a team effort. The highest rated SWAT personnel were compared with the lowest rated 10 on their psychological test scores. 2 tables and 15 references