Emotional Survival For Law Enforcement 2
Emotional Survival for Law
Enforcement
A Synopsis of
Dr. Kevin M. Gilmartin
“A Guide for Officers and
Their Families”
Journey Through Law
Enforcement
Idealistic recruits can become cynical veterans. The job can become all consuming.
An individual can change their “world view” to accommodate perceived job parameters. Perception is driven by physiological and psychological demands.
4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
2
Officer Survival
Suicide is the greatest determinate in officer death (37%).
Depression, isolation, and withdrawal from society and loved ones indicates dysfunction in an officers life.
Officers deny negative aspects of their jobs to justify continuing their careers.
4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
3
Are the Changes Inevitable?
Crises management can take on the form of “avoidance” of responsibility.
Emotional survival for the average police officer is dependent on Agency awareness. Teaching a balanced life (police vs. personal lives) is a key task of leadership. 4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
4
What is Actually Taking Place
Over time Cops see the world differently. In this new world view:
{
{
{
4/10/2007
Boy Scout Leaders become pedophiles
Cynicism builds (everyone has hidden agendas) Bullshit predominates, almost everyone is morphed into an “asshole”!
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
5
Hypervigilance
Definition: A world view based on a “threat based” biologically driven perspective in which everyday events unfold as potentially dangerous to officer safety.
Citizens operate in a bounded context that only periodically assesses personal safety.
Cops can become “hypervigilant” all the time. 4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
6
Affect of Hypervigilance
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) of the human brain determines one’s state of awareness.
Heightened awareness stresses the autonomic nervous system by:
{
{
{
4/10/2007
Increasing blood pressure
Respiration
Body temperature and
Enforcement
A Synopsis of
Dr. Kevin M. Gilmartin
“A Guide for Officers and
Their Families”
Journey Through Law
Enforcement
Idealistic recruits can become cynical veterans. The job can become all consuming.
An individual can change their “world view” to accommodate perceived job parameters. Perception is driven by physiological and psychological demands.
4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
2
Officer Survival
Suicide is the greatest determinate in officer death (37%).
Depression, isolation, and withdrawal from society and loved ones indicates dysfunction in an officers life.
Officers deny negative aspects of their jobs to justify continuing their careers.
4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
3
Are the Changes Inevitable?
Crises management can take on the form of “avoidance” of responsibility.
Emotional survival for the average police officer is dependent on Agency awareness. Teaching a balanced life (police vs. personal lives) is a key task of leadership. 4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
4
What is Actually Taking Place
Over time Cops see the world differently. In this new world view:
{
{
{
4/10/2007
Boy Scout Leaders become pedophiles
Cynicism builds (everyone has hidden agendas) Bullshit predominates, almost everyone is morphed into an “asshole”!
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
5
Hypervigilance
Definition: A world view based on a “threat based” biologically driven perspective in which everyday events unfold as potentially dangerous to officer safety.
Citizens operate in a bounded context that only periodically assesses personal safety.
Cops can become “hypervigilant” all the time. 4/10/2007
Dr. Thomas A. Lifvendahl
6
Affect of Hypervigilance
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) of the human brain determines one’s state of awareness.
Heightened awareness stresses the autonomic nervous system by:
{
{
{
4/10/2007
Increasing blood pressure
Respiration
Body temperature and