NCJ Number
192005
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2001 Pages: 51-55
Date Published
2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined hostility and its control among 15 State police academy graduates as measured by the MMPI-2.
Abstract
Research has demonstrated the usefulness of the MMPI-2 in identifying good and poor performance, dissatisfaction, termination, low performance ratings, unsatisfactory and satisfactory criterion groups, problematic behavior, corruption, and aggression. Much research suggests that certain patterns of responding to this measure by police officer applicants predict job performance behaviors that supervisors and police executives regard unfavorably. The present research focused on anger controlled using repression as a factor not necessarily obvious to psychologists doing the selection. The study assessed an entire class of 15 State police academy graduates after 3 years of service as State police officers. The data covered academy class rank, absence problems, work-related counseling, disciplinary actions, traumatic events, lateness, psychopathology, and a rating of performance. Results supported the hypothesis that repression and hostility control are important factors in the evaluation of the performance police officers. The initial presentation of individuals whose personality involves significant amounts of repression and denial is positive; therefore, police agencies hire these individuals. However, their problems present to police agencies after a short period of time. These problems may involve the overuse of force and authority problems, as well as an inability to accept responsibility for actions and events occurring on the job. Findings indicated the need for cross-validation with a large sample. Findings also indicated that variables likely to predict police performance after pre-selection are subtle, and that underlying hostility coupled with the use of repression appear to be behaviors that can lead toward the specification of important predictor variables. Table, appended instrument, and 11 references