NCJ Number
35760
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 42 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 248-250
Date Published
1975
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR EXAMINES TWO TYPICAL POLICING SITUATIONS WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE, AND EXPLAINS HOW THE APPLICATION OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS (TA) COULD PROMOTE BETTER COMMUNICATION IN THESE CASES.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT EVERYONE ASSUMES THREE MAJOR ROLES DURING THE COURSE OF INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS; THESE ARE THE ROLES OF PARENT, ADULT, AND CHILD. IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, ANY OF THESE THREE RESPONSES MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE. THESE ROLES ARE ALTERED FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN CONVERSING WITH A PEER, ONE MIGHT SPEAK AS ADULT TO ADULT; HOWEVER, IN COMMUNICATING WITH A SUPERIOR, THE SUPERIOR MAY ASSUME THE ROLE OF THE PARENT WHILE THE SUBORDINATE TEMPORARILY ASSUMES THE ROLE OF THE CHILD. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT COMMUNICATIONS BREAK DOWN WHEN THE TWO SPEAKERS ASSUME INCOMPATIBLE COMMUNICATION ROLES. FOR EXAMPLE, AN OFFICER MAY INITIATE A CONVERSATION AS ADULT TO ADULT, WHILE THE CITIZEN MAY RESPOND ANGRILY IN A PARENT TO CHILD RESPONSE. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT, BOTH PARTIES MUST ASSUME COMPATIBLE ROLES: EITHER ADULT TO ADULT PARENT TO CHILD, OR CHILD TO PARENT. OF THESE, THE ADULT TO ADULT COMMUNICATION IS MOST EFFECTIVE. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT POLICE, USING THIS KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNICATIONS PATTERNS, MAY IMPROVE THEIR OWN COMMUNICATIONS BY ANALYZING THE TRANSACTION AND SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. HE FURTHER STATES THAT COMMUNICATIONS IN THE ADULT RESPONSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ATTEMPTED, IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THIS RESPONSE IN THE OTHER PARTY SO THAT REAL COMMUNICATION CAN BE ESTABLISHED.