Personality patterns of British police officers

doi:10.1016/0191-8869(83)90081-8

Personality and Individual Differences

Volume 4, Issue 5, 1983, Pages 507-512

https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(83)90081-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

This study investigates personality patterns in four different British police groups. The subjects comprised: (i) 84 police recruits; (ii) 84 probationary constables; (iii) 73 experienced constables; and (iv) 112 officers of senior rank. Of particular interest were personality traits measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Eysencks' I5. The former measures Psychoticism (P), Extraversion (E) and Neuroticism (N), whereas the latter monitors Impulsiveness (Imp), Venturesomeness (Vent) and Empathy (Emp). All groups tended to be low on P, but whereas the recruits were highly extraverted, venturesome and impulsive, the remaining groups were more reserved, controlled and exhibited fewer empathetic responses. The findings are discussed in terms of ‘wastage’ and occupational socialization.

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View full text

Personality patterns of British police officers

Abstract

Person. individ. Diff.

An extension of Hanewicz's notion of the police personality

The police personality: fact or fiction?

J. Crim. Law, Crimin. Police Sci.

An examination of the influence of training and work experience on the attitudes and perceptions of police constables

An examination of some elements of the personality of police officers and their implications

J. Police Sci. Admin.

Conservatism, dogmatism and authoritarianism in British police officers

Sociology

An application of the analysis of covariance structures to the psychogenetical study of impulsiveness

Br. J. math. statist. Psychol.

The Biological Basis of Personality

Manual of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire