Research Paper on "Police Stress Christianity-Based Stress Therapy in Law"

Research Paper 4 pages (1222 words) Sources: 6

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Police Stress

Christianity-Based Stress Therapy in Law Enforcement

The archetypal law-enforcement agent is a stolid figure with an unshakeable volition to uphold legal standards against odds of physical danger, political implication and personal temptation. However, a more realistic perspective on the modern police officer illustrates that in fact, to proscribe an idealized image of the perfect law-enforcement candidate as being impermeable to the extraordinary pressures of such work is to do a fundamental disservice to the occupational and psychological needs of this social group. The notion that a police officer should be capable of functioning in spite of the unique perils of his occupation is being supplanted today by the expectation that proper psychological evaluation and support of officers is a crucial aspect of contending with the circumstances inbuilt to the work. The research conducted here indicates that effective profiling is necessary in order to ensure that recruited agents possess the psychological capacity to withstand the stressors of the job and that further, proper stress-counseling for officers may be benefited by the incorporation of a Christian perspective.

The discussion proceeds from the basic assumption that law enforcement agents are particularly susceptible to stress-related psychological health dangers. Kurke (1995) notes that "far from being viewed as invincible, police are seen as individuals who, because of their repeated exposure to scenes of carnage and mayhem, may be especially at risk for the development of stress symptoms." (Kurke, 170) the consequences of these stress symptoms can weigh heavily on the effectiveness of an entire precinct, with job attentiveness, job conduct and a relationship between the officer and his department often suffering considerably. It is therefore recommendable that every law-enforcement agency with the means develop an internal psychology department, composed of therapists who specialize in effective stress management. Such a strategy could be significant in bringing managerial and operational effectiveness to the whole of the organization.

It is not uncommon for stress to effect the morale which officers bring to the job, with a bevy of negative or numbing work experiences creating a psychological defense pattern which predisposes an individual to an emotional disconnect from the proceedings of his occupation. The emergence of cynicism amongst law-officers may be widespread in urban or impoverished settings, where crime and public discontent will tend to provoke a conception of normalcy thereto. "Specifically referring to police, some authors have considered cynicism to be either serving a functional purpose, such as insulating the police from society (Niederhoffer 1967; Tifft 1974), or acting as an ineffective coping mechanism." (Stearns, 127) Though this may constitute a seemingly minimal concern within the larger framework of maintaining civil order, police cynicism may actually point to burgeoning concerns of efficiency and conduct.

Such dictates the need for and current implementation of personality profiling tests in hiring practices. Psychologists are delegated to provide input on whether applying officers are possessing of the makeup to avoid such pitfalls as these aforementioned. "The typical psychologist involved with personnel selection would use personality test results to assist selection boards to either "screen-in" or "screen-out" applicants for police work." (O'Connor, 1). The elevated danger of working in this field may have the effect of invoking in poor law-enforcement candidates a set of behaviors which will either be considered ethically inappropriate or in the dereliction of duty. Deviations from proper enforcement behavior may include ethnically-based prejudicial treatment of potential suspects, distortions of legal code for self-interest and the concession to corrupt.

To some extent, such officers are to be considered unique cases, wherein the vetting process of hiring has failed to pinpoint psychological indices of a candidate unfit for service. Likewise, misappropriation of law-enforcement power may often be a product of… READ MORE

How to Reference "Police Stress Christianity-Based Stress Therapy in Law" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Police and Stress in a Police Officer Thesis

Police Stress

Preventing Police Officer Stress

The stresses that police officers face as a part of their daily job often make it difficult to maintain a normal life. Police officers… read more

Thesis 7 pages (2066 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Principles Policies and Rules in Legislation and Police Power Term Paper

Law and Police Powers

Recent changes to the law in Queensland, and to the powers of police there, mean that citizens need to think twice next time they stroll home… read more

Term Paper 9 pages (3246 words) Sources: 8 Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

Corporate Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law Term Paper

Gilbert Law Summaries: Constitutional Law by Jesse Choper

The United States Constitution is the foremost legal authority for laws created in the United States. Though the Constitution is a federal… read more

Term Paper 32 pages (10293 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

Police Personality Term Paper

Police Personality

Is there a police personality? -- unique traits vs. socialization and vocational experience

There are two major explanations as to why certain persons may be drawn to the… read more

Term Paper 2 pages (650 words) Sources: 2 Style: APA Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Police Deviance and Integrity Research Paper

Police Deviance and Integrity

In law enforcement, officers play an important role in determining how they are perceived by the public. This can have an impact on their ability to… read more

Research Paper 6 pages (1631 words) Sources: 6 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>