Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Factors responsible for police stress
Factors responsible for police stress
Factors responsible for police stress
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Factors responsible for police stress
Stress is not a permanent or incurable disease. It is one that can be reduced and managed in several different ways, both personally and within the workplace. With any problem, the first step to reaching a solution is identifying key signs or symptoms associated with the issue. Police officers tend to display an array of physical or behavioral changes when they are feeling conflicted or stressed out. A main part of being a good supervisor is noticing even the smallest changes in the actions and behaviors of those that work under their command.
Fatigue is a typical sign of an underlying stress related condition. The body’s sympathetic nervous system (SNS) releases an epinephrine (adrenaline) hormone, along with increased heart rate, as an automatic “fight or flight” response to a stressful situation. Long term fatigue and adrenal exhaustion is bound to develop over time as police officers are repeatedly met with stressful situations. To work as a police officer, staying alert and maintaining concentration is necessary; therefore, rest is also necessary to preserve
…show more content…
In regard to the supervisor, a key component of accomplishing goals is to simply know the team. A big part of knowing the officers is to understand the rudimentary psychological development of an officer’s motivation level and having the ability to empathize with their issues. Besides work environment and personal issues, this includes the attitudes of the supervisors, as they must set an example of their own expectations. Being aware of an officers’ health, family, financial, and social issues can show when it is time to make some changes, as they are the areas in which efficiency and enthusiasm begin to deteriorate. This is what makes management teams better at motivating the employees, as effective leaders can detect problems sooner and create better solutions for those
Working in corrections has been associated with higher stress rates due to the unpredictable nature of the field (Parker, 2006). Correctional officers are forced into dangerous situations without adequate protection as a result of the prison environment, which can further lead to physi...
the psychological health of police, fire, and ambulance officers.” International Journal of Stress Management, Vol. 11, pp. 227-44.
I should improve my leadership of motivating people. To improve it, I will take several tangible steps. First, I will determine what each colleague values in effort-to-performance expectancy when I have on-on-one meeting or casual chatting. If his/her motivation is getting introverted, I will always recognize how his/her efforts contribute to provide patient values or to beat competitors. I will also encourage vice-president and each director to set criteria of desired behavior using SMART and reward efforts contributed to generate extrovert values for patients. I will check if these steps are working by observing change in activeness or cooperativeness of members, and the number of collaborated projects. I will gain a feedback from the vice-president and directors about whether my leadership works or not. If these are negative, I will change my way to communicate with
Vila, B., Kenney, D., Morrison, G. B., and Reuland, M. (2000, August 28). Evaluating the Effects of Fatigue On Police Patrol Officers: Final Report. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved on December 7, 2013 from
The law enforcement officers suffer quite more job-associated stress than the people living in the community. Many have had to realize that the nature of the profession itself may be exposing officers to the increased levels of stressors. In essence, job-associated stress is among the major health concerns of the law enforcement community, and this is because it can have some impact on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the officers. The difference in the stressors between the law enforcement personnel and other individuals is the fact that, the enforcement officials get to interact with the human population that are quite angry, upset or even uncooperative, in which case it takes some toll on
Police stress is viewed as a structural problem that is amongst the police culture (Kappeler & Potter, 2005). The argument made is that the working environment causes the stress. Even though a police officers job is not as dangerous officers still determine the danger as a source of stress. Police stress can be split up in to three sources: occupation, job-related and external stress (Kappeler & Potter, 2005). Just the thought of the job gives officers stress. Job-related circumstances such as responding to calls can also create stress. Finally, external sources such as personal stress can all lead to an officer being highly
First, stress in the lives of police officers often result in poor performance from sleep deprivation and panic. Sleep deprivation is one effect that stress can have on officers. The fatigue that stress causes can very literally kill the affected officer. Many times, officers hold anxiety inside them. When they are in bed, they are oftentimes let alone to think, which leads to many “racing thoughts” and “what if’s” (Koeling). Thinking about such things can keep officers awake for hours, leaving them fatigued and sleep-deprived when they report for work the next day. More causes of sleep deprivation are due to stressful, long shifts and odd hours (Casey). As a third-shift security guard for four years, Carl Koeling has had his share of sleep deprivation. In a recent interview, he said that when he stood a sleep-deprived watch, he remembers feeling “lightheaded and woozy” (Koeling). As a psychologist for thirty-eight years, Koeling also knows that fatigue caused by stress can also affect officers’ judgement, balance, and physical health (Koeling). It is vital that these three things be working properly for those in law enforcement, as the work they do often depends on good decision-making, decent balance, and high levels of physical fitness and well-being (Miller “Law Enforcement”). Panic is another effect that stress can have on police officers.
It is imperative for supervisors to focus on what is required in order for his/her employees to accomplish their job. They must be supportive of their employees and provide continual feedback on their job performance .Supervisor need to include their employees when making changes that effect they way they perform their jobs or finding new way to do things that were problematic. Supervisors should give their employees more responsibly to make them feel more valued and powerful. There is also a major need for promotion, pay increase and compensation system (educational reimbursement, vacation incentives etc.
When faced with a dangerous situation, the common mind will flood with consternation, while the body changes its customary routine to adjust to this new development. One of the first things to change is the release of adrenaline. That adrenaline will cause the release of stored energy and move blood between the muscle groups (Conger 2). This allows the subject to move faster, work harder, and be stronger. All of these traits improve the individual to better survive the dilemma and find safety. Besides contributing to an increase in energy and power, the adrenal glands release cortisol too (Conger 1). The stress o...
The purpose of this paper is to define stress and how it effects the body's physiological systems. This paper will include the normal functions and organs involved in the following five physiological systems, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune and musculoskeletal. This paper will also include a description of a chronic illness associated with each physiological system and how the illness is affected by stress.
Stress in the workplace can have an effect not only on the safety measures employees engage in while on the clock, but can also affect how an individual behaves outside of the workplace, in fact, it is not uncommon for an individual to experience accidents and injuries outside of the workplace that can be linked back to the stresses they experienced not only in the workplace but other stresses concerning one’s employment (Macik-Frey et al, 2007).
Work-related factors and demographic factors will be assessed and in addition, determine what police officers are experiencing or experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. If so, did their agency accommodate them by providing stress management training and was it beneficial. To collect accurate data, a survey/questionnaire will be given out to six different police departments in each county in Maryland. Critical incidents with law enforcement agency’s employees have to be recognized to get a true understanding of the issue and how to fix the issue. As a researcher, adequate results will be presented and it will help fulfill the purpose of this
Supervision of employees can be a hard task to complete. There are many factors that are necessary to be a great supervisor. Supervisors must set the tone, change the paradigms, and create a foundation that results in a truly supportive working environment. (More & Miller 2014, Pg. 355)
The functions they perform are varied in nature and thus they have to be on their toes all the time. Excessive work load affects their health. Some of the police persons succumb to smoking and drinking to release their work pressure. If they are not leading a healthy life it’s impossible for them to give their best to this profession.
Stress is defined as “any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and thereby tax one’s coping abilities” (Weiten & Lloyd, 2006, p. 72). Stress is a natural event that exists literally in all areas of one’s life. It can be embedded in the environment, culture, or perception of an event or idea. Stress is a constant burden, and can be detrimental to one’s physical and mental health. However stress can also provide beneficial effects; it can satisfy one’s need for stimulation and challenge, promote personal growth, and can provide an individual with the tools to cope with, and be less affected by tomorrow’s stress (Weiten & Lloyd, 2006, p. 93).