Traditional police recruit training has drawn from the military model of training which uses intimidation, harassment, and demeaning practices to foster disciplined behaviors under stress and obedience to authority figures. Because this training method fosters low self-esteem, poor job motivation, and dependence upon the commands of authority figures, it is inadequate to train contemporary officers who must make discretionary decisions and interact constructively with various types of persons in many different situations. Police training should be based in scientifically established principles of adult learning. These principles indicate that adults learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process, i.e., adults learn by doing. Also, adult's motivation to learn is intertwined with a high level of self-esteem that is in turn tied to high levels of performance motivation. The material and teaching techniques should not only be based on adult learning principles, but also on an analysis of job tasks required for contemporary policing. The knowledge and skills required for the tasks should be taught and then applied in simulated situations characterized by the stress and performance requirements of actual policing. 15 footnotes