Shooting, Death Trauma, and Excessive Force (From Police Managerial Use of Psychology and Psychologist, P 43-62, 1987, Harry W More and Peter C Unsinger, eds. - See NCJ-105141)

• NCJ Number: 105144
• Author(s): S L Carson
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Drawing on experiences in psychologically debriefing over 140 police officers who had experienced incidents involving shooting, death, or use of excessive force, the author describes the associated psychological, emotional, and behavioral symptoms associated with these traumatic and stressful occurrences.

Abstract

Short-term effects of postshooting stress syndrome include a time distortion about the event, difficulty in sleeping, and rumination and reliving the event. Other symptoms may include increased alcohol consumption, fears for their or their family's personal safety, anxiety about their jobs, irritability, inattention, and self-doubt. While most officers show few long-term effects, some have reported drinking problems, flashbacks and nightmares, identification with and sympathy for the victim, and marital problems. These reactions can be understood within the context of a model of human experience that emphasizes interaction among emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. Within this model, a failure to deal appropriately with negative feelings results in stress that manifests itself as physiological symptoms; emotional problems, such as anxiety and depression; behavioral problems such as alcoholism; or interpersonal difficulties. Consequently, it is important that officers involved in traumatic incidents be given an opportunity to examine and discuss feelings about the event lest they emerge in the form of life-threatening stress symptoms. 6 references.