NCJ Number
45388
Date Published
1977
Length
168 pages
Annotation
A STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFECTS OF A COURSE IN PEER COUNSELING SKILLS UPON A GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS AND TO DETERMINE WAYS OF HELPING THEM DEAL WITH THE STRESS ARISING FROM THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THEIR WORK.
Abstract
A SAMPLE OF 22 MALE POLICE OFFICERS WAS CHOSEN FROM A MEDIUM-SIZED POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS. THESE OFFICERS HAD VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE A COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSE ENTITLED 'INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING.' THEY WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS AND WERE PRETESTED AND POSTTESTED ON THE CARKHUFF EMPATHY SCALE AND THE LOEVINGER SENTENCE COMPLETION FORM. THE OFFICERS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WERE TAUGHT PEER COUNSELING SKILLS OF ATTENDING, LISTENING, RESPONDING, CONFRONTING, AND PLANNING FOR ACTION. PARTICULAR JOB-RELATED ISSUES OF CONCERN TO POLICE OFFICERS WERE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESES WERE CONSIDERED IN THE STUDY: (1) COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF POLICE OFFICERS AS MEASURED BY THE CARKHUFF EMPATHY SCALE CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED BY A COURSE IN PEER COUNSELING SKILLS; AND (2) EGO DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS AS MEASURED BY THE LOEVINGER SENTENCE COMPLETION FORM CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED BY SUCH A COURSE. ANALYSIS OF THE TEST RESULTS SUPPORTED THE HYPOTHESIZED IMPROVEMENT IN LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ALTHOUGH NO INCREASE IN LEVEL OF EGO DEVELOPMENT WAS SHOWN. THIS LACK OF CHANGE MAY POINT OUT THE RIGIDITY OF ADULT EGO STRUCTURES AND THE NEED FOR MORE POWERFUL EXPERIENCE TO STIMULATE CHANGE. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEER COUNSELING PROGRAMS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE LITERATURE CONCERNING THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE POLICE AND THE STRESS OF THEIR WORK IS EXAMINED. THE NEED FOR DEVELOPING WAYS OF DEALING WITH STRESS IS MADE EXPLICIT AND PEER COUNSELING IS PRESENTED AS ONE ALTERNATIVE WHICH MAY ENABLE POLICE OFFICERS TO DISCUSS JOB-RELATED CONCERNS WITH EACH OTHER IN A HELPING MANNER. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR FURTHER RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF ADULT DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY AND IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEER COUNSELING PROGRAMS FOR POLICE OFFICERS. APPENDIXES OUTLINE THE CURRICULUM OF THE EXPERIMENTAL COURSE, THE TESTS USED TO EVALUATE COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND EGO DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RAW SCORES OF THE PARTICIPANTS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED.