ROLE PLAYING AND GROUP EXPERIENCE TO FACILITATE ATTITUDE AND VALUE CHANGES AMONG BLACK AND WHITE POLICE OFFICERS

• NCJ Number: 31838
• Journal: Journal of Social Issues Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1975) Pages: 35-45
• Author(s): J E TEAHAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS OF THIS ACADEMY TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING ON COMMUNITY ISSUES, VALUES, AND ATTITUDES BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE OFFICERS.

Abstract

NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE NOTED SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES BETWEEN ATTITUDES HELD BY BLACK AND WHITE OFFICERS ON COMMUNITY AND DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES. THIS TRAINING PROGRAM SOUGHT TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OFFICERS BY MEANS OF WEEKLY SESSIONS INVOLVING ROLE-PLAYING AND INTERPERSONAL FEEDBACK. THE STUDY SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 149 WHITE AND 31 BLACK POLICE CADETS; THIS SAMPLE WAS DIVIDED BETWEEN CONTROL AND EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT, CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, WHITE OFFICERS BECAME BOTH MORE SENSITIZED TO THE PRESENCE OF BLACK-WHITE PROBLEMS AND MORE PREJUDICED TOWARD BLACKS, WHEREAS BLACK OFFICERS WHO ATTENDED BECAME MORE POSITIVE TOWARD WHITES. IT WAS FELT THAT RESULTS WERE DUE IN PART TO A PERCEPTION BY WHITE OFFICERS THAT THE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF BLACKS RATHER THAN FOR ALL.