These opposing themes create dilemmas for the individual officers and are thus vital to the application of attitudes to action. Data from a longitudinal study of police socialization patterns is used in examining the social representation theory argument. This study showed that police generally adhere to conservative conceptions of crime and punishment, but that their beliefs were greatly influenced by personal experience. Implications for police training are discussed including broadening the range of experiences to which recruits are exposed and thus broadening their perspectives. 21 references (Author abstract modified)