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Police Work

NCJ Number
120303
Author(s)
P B Ainsworth; K Pease
Date Published
1987
Length
182 pages
Annotation
Using psychological principles, this book instructs police officers in the handling of various behaviors by offenders, victims, and the public, as well as in the management of their own behaviors.
Abstract
The book opens with a discussion of the importance of psychology in the development of effective policing techniques. Regarding communication, a chapter addresses the dynamics of nonverbal communication, i.e., the meaning of bodily postures, movements, and gestures. This is followed by a chapter on the dynamics of perception. This chapter discusses factors in determining what a particular person perceives, observes, and interprets in a given circumstance. This is intended to help officers in not only assessing witness reports but in critiquing their own perceptions. The related topics of memory functioning and the mind's processing of information are also considered. Other topics relate to factors that determine whether or not citizens will intervene in a crisis situation, behavior in groups, how circumstances affect criminal behaviors, discrimination, crisis intervention in family disputes, hostage taking, fear of crime, and relating to crime victims. One chapter addresses the management of police occupational stress. Chapter references, subject index.