NCJ Number
55809
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1979) Pages: 54-57,66
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE DYNAMICS OF STRESS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE POLICE OFFICER'S WORK ARE ANALYZED, AND NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE WAYS OF HANDLING THE STRESS ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY STIMULUS PRODUCING STRESS IN POLICE WORK COMES FROM CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUS REACTIONS TO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS 'UNKNOWNS' ON A REGULAR BASIS. FROM EXPERIENCE OR CAUTION LEARNED IN TRAINING, THE POLICE OFFICER KNOWS THAT ANY ANSWERED CALL CAN BE A THREATENING SITUATION FOR HIM. HUMANS DEAL WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS MOST FREQUENTLY THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS. THE DEFENSE MECHANISMS CALLED 'DENIAL' AND 'DISPLACEMENT' ARE THE TWO OFTEN USED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN DEALING WITH STRESS. DENIAL IS A CONSCIOUS OR SUBCONCIOUS SUPPRESSING OF ANXIETY AND TENSION--A PRETENSE THAT ONE IS CALM OR UNAFRAID. POLICE OFFICERS SEEK TO PROJECT BOTH TO THEIR PEERS AND TO THEMSELVES AN IMAGE OF MANLINESS AND COURAGE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANXIETY AND FEAR. THIS LEADS TO A DENIAL OF THE REAL, NORMAL EMOTIONS AFFECTING THEIR BODIES AND MENTAL PROCESSES AS THEY FACE THE POTENTIALLY THREATENING 'UNKNOWNS' OF THEIR WORK. DISPLACEMENT AS A DEFENSE MECHANISM INVOLVES CHANNELING TENSION AND ANXIETY TOWARD PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS THAT HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THE REAL ROOTS OF THE OPERATIVE STRESS. DISPLACEMENT CAN INVOLVE COMPLAINING ABOUT LOW PAY AND POOR WORKING CONDITIONS, EXCESSIVE DRINKING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, RECEIVING ILLEGAL PAYOFFS, ABUSING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN, AND ADOPTING A GENERALLY NEGATIVE OR CYNICAL ATTITUDE TOWARD THOSE NOT WITHIN THE POLICE SUBCULTURE. DEFENSE MECHANISMS CAN PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN KEEPING ANXIETY FROM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING THE PERSONALITY CENTER, BUT WHEN EMPLOYED OVER A LONG PERIOD, THEY PREVENT THE GROWTH THAT COMES FROM FACING AND DEALING WITH THE TRUE SOURCES OF STRESS ASSAULTING THE PERSONALITY. IT IS THE ROLE OF POLICE SUPERVISORS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRESS OF THE JOB AND HELP OFFICERS DEAL WITH THE FEAR AND ANXIETY THAT ARE AN INEVITABLE PART OF THEIR WORK, SO THAT DESTRUCTIVE USE OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS WILL NOT HAMPER JOB PERFORMANCE AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE POLICE OFFICERS. (RCB)