Personality profiles of police candidates

Abstract

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Personality of South African Police Trainees

“…Thus, the sample is preselected by the entrance exam and by the self-selection of the trainees by their willingness to become police officers. The tendency toward intolerance, criticism, revenge, and opportunism (lower Cooperativeness) also corresponds somewhat to the description of police officers from the literature in the sense of tough-mindedness or dominance (Lorr & Strack, 1994), and, by that, also supports a dispositional model of police personality. However, the finding of a stronger willingness to make sacrifices to make the world better in the police trainees compared to the university students seems to be promising bearing in mind their future tasks and duties as police officers, particularly given the very high crime rate in the Republic of South Africa.…”

“…When comparing the description of the South African police trainees to university students of a similar age from the same region based on Temperament and Character Inventory scores, the police trainees' temperament appeared to be very similar to traits reported from police officers from the USA, the U.K., and Spain, except for the high impulsivity reported in U.K. police officers (Hogan & Kurtines, 1975;Gudjonsson & Adlam, 1983;Cooper, Robertson, & Sharman, 1986;Hargrave & Hiatt, 1989;Eber, 1991;Lorr & Strack, 1994;Gomà-i-Freixanet & Wismeijer, 2002). The police trainees described themselves as curious and excitable but slow tempered, reflective, and systematic (Novelty Seeking, partly corresponding to adventurousness), and not shy with strangers, carefree, relaxed, outgoing, confident, calm, and energetic (Harm Avoidance, partly corresponding to low depression and anxiety, extraversion).…”

“…Using the California Personality Inventory, successful police applicants reported higher assertiveness and dominance, more potential for social mobility, more social poise and self-confidence, higher self-acceptance, more need for autonomous achievement, more functional efficiency, more psychological mindedness (in the sense of interpersonal skills characterized by interest in and responsiveness to others), more masculine attitudes, and higher empathy compared to unsuccessful applicants in the USA (Hogan & Kurtines, 1975;Hargrave & Hiatt, 1989). Similarly, Lorr and Strack (1994), in common with Eber (1991), described the average U.S. police officer as being highly controlled, independent, sociable, tough-minded, and emotionally adjusted. Swedish police trainees were found to achieve increasing scores on "responsibility," "flexibility," "empathy," and "humour" during their training at the police academy (Lilie & Rosmark, 2002).…”

Polish Police Officers: Personality and Risk Taking

“…Candidates were given the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire consisting of 16 PF and 12 psychpathological scales. The accepted police candidates demonstrated self-control, had strong characters and were independent (Lorr and Strack 1994). In the study of Goma-i-Freixanet and Wismeijer (2002), using EPQ, Spanish policemen scored lower on Neuroticism and Psychoticism domains than the control group avoiding risk.…”

An Examination of Authoritarian Personality Traits among Police Officers: The Role of Experience

“…This is counter to the popular belief that years on the job will "harden" police officers and lead to negative attitudes and traits. Researchers have suggested that police officers may be no different from other working and middle-class Americans (Lorr and Strack 1994;Turner 2003). This is not to preclude the idea that police officers exhibit authoritarian traits, just as individuals in the general population do.…”