1. Running head: STRESS<br />Police Stress<br />Schalonia Smith<br />Argosy University<br />Police stress<br />The duties and responsibilities of police officers often create stress in both their work and home environments. When coupled with traumatic events, the stress can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can have extreme psychological effects on police officers and their families. “Police work is often associated with high strain as evidenced by the severe psychological and physiological problems experienced by officers, such as burnout (including emotional exhaustion), marital problems, alcohol and drug abuse, heart disease, and suicide” CITATION Gar10 237 1033 (Hall, Dollard, Tuckey, Winefield, & Thompson, 2010, p. 237). Through psychological intervention, these severe psychological and physiological problems can be addressed and often resolved. First, however, the problems must be recognized, which can be done through psychological testing and therapy after traumatic events. This paper will address the common stressors associated with police officers, the positive intervention of forensic psychologists, and the psychological instruments available to test and treat the stress of police officers. <br />Stressors<br />Police officers view the ‘under belly’ of society on a daily basis. Police officers typically deal with criminals on a daily basis. Most interactions are not friendly and expose officers to personal physical danger. The daily interactions of a police officer can also be extremely emotional CITATION Gar10 1033 (Hall, Dollard, Tuckey, Winefield, & Thompson, 2010). “…Studies on burnout within police find that emotional exhaustion, defined as feelings of being emotionally over-extended and exhausted, is the core explanatory dimension of burnout” CITATION Gar10 238 1033 (Hall, Dollard, Tuckey, Winefield, & Thompson, 2010, p. 238). <br />In addition to the stress of dealing with criminals, police officers may be exposed to gruesome deaths in the form of car accidents, murders, suicides, and hostage situations CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010). These exposures create acute stress and the psychological effects are usually immediate CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010). “Exposure to dead bodies has been found to be a significant psychological stressor among officers when the incident is traumatic and unexpected” CITATION Cho10 55 1033 (Chopko, 2010, p. 55). Some symptoms to psychological distress after being exposed to gruesome deaths include PTSD, depression, social with drawls, delusions, tension, guilt, anger, bouts of crying, and irritability CITATION Gar10 1033 (Hall, Dollard, Tuckey, Winefield, & Thompson, 2010). Not all symptoms are negative, however CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010). Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is described as a personal growth after exposure to a traumatic experience CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010). After being exposed to traumatic events, police officers may become more goals oriented, increased significant socialization, and increased personal strength CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010). <br />Psychological intervention and testing<br />Without the aid of psychological intervention, typically by a forensic psychologist, police officers may leave their job CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010), commit suicide, or experience work-family conflict CITATION Gar10 1033 (Hall, Dollard, Tuckey, Winefield, & Thompson, 2010). Forensic psychologists can offer psychological assessment and counseling recommendations for police officers. Forensic psychologist also aid in psychological intervention by conducting research that can later be applied to officers who have experienced traumatic event (Argosy University Materials, 2010).<br />Though many stressors are highly perceptible, the psychological effects may not be. Therefore, police departments may utilize psychological tests when officers are exposed to perceived stressors. One such tool is the Fitness for Duty Evaluation (FFDE), which provides a psychological assessment after officer witnesses a traumatic event (Argosy University Materials, 2010). A forensic psychologist conducts a FFDE and the results are typically not shared with the participant, but rather the requesting entity, usually the department the officer works for (Argosy University Materials, 2010). <br />Conclusion<br />The job of a police officer is stressful and emotional/psychologically burdensome (Argosy University Materials, 2010; Chopko, 2010; Hall, Dollard, Tuckey, Winefield, & Thompson, 2010; LeBlanc, Regehr, Jelley, & Barath, 2008). Exposure to situations outside a typical citizen’s daily experience can have both negative and positive effects CITATION Cho10 1033 (Chopko, 2010). Unfortunately, the effects are normally negative. Fortunately, forensic psychologists and psychological testing and counseling are readily and rightfully available to most police officers. <br />References<br />Argosy University Materials. (2010). Module 7. Retrieved from, https://mycampus.argosy.edu/ <br /> BIBLIOGRAPHY 1033 Chopko, B. (2010). Posttraumatic distress and growth: An Empirical study of police officers. American Journal of Psychotherapy , 64 (1), 55. Retrieved from ProQuest Health and Medical Complete. (Document ID: 2125381971).<br />Hall, G. B., Dollard, M. F., Tuckey, M. R., Winefield, A. H., & Thompson, B. M. (2010). Job demands, work–family conflict, and emotional exhaustion in police officers: A longitudinal test of competing theories. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (83), 237–250. Retrieved from Business Source Elite database. <br />LeBlanc, V. R., Regehr, C., Jelley, R. B., & Barath, I. (2008). The Relationship between coping styles, performance, and responses to stressful scenarios in police recruits. International Journal of Stress Management , 15 (1), 79-93. (DOI: 10.1037/1072-5245.15.1.76)<br />