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Personality trait differences in law enforcement officers

Personality trait differences in law enforcement officers Law enforcement is a stressful career, especially to US-based officers. Officers are typically psychologically screened and declared fit for duty prior to completing training. Current personality research has demonstrated the potential for traits to increase or decrease due to a variety of factors, including time and stress levels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how officers’ personality traits may differ based upon their levels of stress and lengths of service. This quantitative non-experimental research design recruited potential participants from several online-based, law enforcement officer-centric channels. Participants then completed a five-factor model (FFM) personality measure, the Law Enforcement Officer Stress Scale, and an accompanying demographic questionnaire. The participants’ FFM personality trait levels (dependent variable) were measured and compared to other participants’ trait levels based upon the independent variables of lengths of service and stress levels. The authors found the current sample had a higher mean stress level than any previously reported law enforcement officer sample. The personality trait agreeableness was significantly correlated with extraversion, and extraversion was significantly correlated with openness to new experiences. The authors found significant differences in several FFM traits for both career-related stress and length of service. The findings support previous research, contribute to the job demand-control model, and suggest the continued stress of the job may psychologically impact an officer. It is recommended law enforcement administrators be more aware of this potential and consider findings strategies to mitigate these trait differences.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative non-experimental research design recruited potential participants from several online-based, law enforcement officer-centric channels. Participants then completed a five-factor personality measure, the Law Enforcement Officer Stress Scale, and an accompanying demographic questionnaire. The participants’ FFM personality trait levels (dependent variable) were measured and compared to other participants’ trait levels based upon the independent variables of lengths of service and stress levels.FindingsThe authors found the current sample had a higher mean stress level than any previously report law enforcement officer sample. The personality trait agreeableness was significantly correlated with extraversion, r(159)=0.36, p<0.000; and, extraversion was significantly correlated with openness to new experiences, r(159)=0.28, p<0.000. The authors found significant differences in several FFM traits for both career-related stress and length of service.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings support previous research, contribute to the job demand-control model, and suggest the continued stress of the job may psychologically impact an officer.Practical implicationsIt is recommended law enforcement administrators be more aware of this potential and consider findings strategies to mitigate these trait differences.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine how personality may differ in law enforcement officers (LEOs) with both high stress and long careers. Logical follow-ups to this study would be longitudinal studies on LEOs. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management Emerald Publishing

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References (71)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1363-951X
DOI
10.1108/pijpsm-01-2019-0004
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Law enforcement is a stressful career, especially to US-based officers. Officers are typically psychologically screened and declared fit for duty prior to completing training. Current personality research has demonstrated the potential for traits to increase or decrease due to a variety of factors, including time and stress levels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how officers’ personality traits may differ based upon their levels of stress and lengths of service. This quantitative non-experimental research design recruited potential participants from several online-based, law enforcement officer-centric channels. Participants then completed a five-factor model (FFM) personality measure, the Law Enforcement Officer Stress Scale, and an accompanying demographic questionnaire. The participants’ FFM personality trait levels (dependent variable) were measured and compared to other participants’ trait levels based upon the independent variables of lengths of service and stress levels. The authors found the current sample had a higher mean stress level than any previously reported law enforcement officer sample. The personality trait agreeableness was significantly correlated with extraversion, and extraversion was significantly correlated with openness to new experiences. The authors found significant differences in several FFM traits for both career-related stress and length of service. The findings support previous research, contribute to the job demand-control model, and suggest the continued stress of the job may psychologically impact an officer. It is recommended law enforcement administrators be more aware of this potential and consider findings strategies to mitigate these trait differences.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative non-experimental research design recruited potential participants from several online-based, law enforcement officer-centric channels. Participants then completed a five-factor personality measure, the Law Enforcement Officer Stress Scale, and an accompanying demographic questionnaire. The participants’ FFM personality trait levels (dependent variable) were measured and compared to other participants’ trait levels based upon the independent variables of lengths of service and stress levels.FindingsThe authors found the current sample had a higher mean stress level than any previously report law enforcement officer sample. The personality trait agreeableness was significantly correlated with extraversion, r(159)=0.36, p<0.000; and, extraversion was significantly correlated with openness to new experiences, r(159)=0.28, p<0.000. The authors found significant differences in several FFM traits for both career-related stress and length of service.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings support previous research, contribute to the job demand-control model, and suggest the continued stress of the job may psychologically impact an officer.Practical implicationsIt is recommended law enforcement administrators be more aware of this potential and consider findings strategies to mitigate these trait differences.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine how personality may differ in law enforcement officers (LEOs) with both high stress and long careers. Logical follow-ups to this study would be longitudinal studies on LEOs.

Journal

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and ManagementEmerald Publishing

Published: Nov 20, 2019

Keywords: Personality; Five-factor model; Law enforcement officers; Police stress

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