Stress in Law Enforcement
PED
Professor Davidson
Stress in Law Enforcement
Stress plays a part in the lives of everyone. Some stress is not only inevitable, it can be good. For example, the physical stress of “working out” improves your cardiovascular system, and feeling pressure that causes you to study harder for an exam can improve your score. Police stress, however, refers to the negative pressures related to police work. Police officers are not superhumans. Law enforcement officers are affected by their daily exposure to human indecency and pain; that dealing with a suspicious and sometimes hostile public takes its toll on them; and that the shift changes, the long periods of boredom, and the ever-present danger that are part of police work do cause serious job stress.
Dr. Hans Selye developed the name stressors for the effect of long-term environmental threats. Dr. Selye maintains that the unrelieved effort to cope with stressors can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, digestive disorders, and headaches (Seyle, 1978). Stressors in police work fall into four categories, first there are stresses inherent in police work, secondly stresses arising internally from police department practices and policies, thirdly external stresses stemming from the criminal justice system and the society at large, and lastly internal stresses confronting individual officers.
According to Dr. Hans stress occurs in three stages within the human body: Alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion. The alarm reaction produces physiological changes known collectively as “fight or flight” syndrome in response to an emergency. Heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tone increase. The secretion of adrenaline heightens awareness, a vital survivor factor that police officers need when confronted with life-or-death situations. The resistance stage is characterized by more control and a greater ability to withstand the effects of stress while maintaining high performance and is caused by
Professor Davidson
Stress in Law Enforcement
Stress plays a part in the lives of everyone. Some stress is not only inevitable, it can be good. For example, the physical stress of “working out” improves your cardiovascular system, and feeling pressure that causes you to study harder for an exam can improve your score. Police stress, however, refers to the negative pressures related to police work. Police officers are not superhumans. Law enforcement officers are affected by their daily exposure to human indecency and pain; that dealing with a suspicious and sometimes hostile public takes its toll on them; and that the shift changes, the long periods of boredom, and the ever-present danger that are part of police work do cause serious job stress.
Dr. Hans Selye developed the name stressors for the effect of long-term environmental threats. Dr. Selye maintains that the unrelieved effort to cope with stressors can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, digestive disorders, and headaches (Seyle, 1978). Stressors in police work fall into four categories, first there are stresses inherent in police work, secondly stresses arising internally from police department practices and policies, thirdly external stresses stemming from the criminal justice system and the society at large, and lastly internal stresses confronting individual officers.
According to Dr. Hans stress occurs in three stages within the human body: Alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion. The alarm reaction produces physiological changes known collectively as “fight or flight” syndrome in response to an emergency. Heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tone increase. The secretion of adrenaline heightens awareness, a vital survivor factor that police officers need when confronted with life-or-death situations. The resistance stage is characterized by more control and a greater ability to withstand the effects of stress while maintaining high performance and is caused by
References: Cheek F. E. & Miller, M. S. (1983). The experience of stress for correction officers: A double-blind theory of correctional staff. Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol 1, No. 2, p. 105-120 H. Seyle, Stress without distress (revised) New York: McGraw Hill, 1978,1. Keefe, J. (2009). Protect your life a health handbook for law enforcement professionals. (3rd ed.). Flushing NY: Looseleaf Law Publications. Matti, V., & Matti, M. (2011). Nonlinearity of the effects of police stressors on police officer burnout. Policing, 34(3), 382-402.