CJ 410 Chapter 9 Police

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CJ 410 Chapter 9 -- Police
STRESS

• Criminal Justice Department
• Marshall University

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What Is
Stress?

• Anything that places an adjustive (adaptive)
  demand on the organism (Han Selye)
• Positive Stress Eustress
• Negative Stress Distress

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StimuliThat differ in meaning to the observer
(senses)

• Cues
• Often highly symbolic
• Which differ in meaning to the observer
• Innocuous or Trivial threat to vital
  functioning
• Danger in the eye of the beholder

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Recognize Stimuli

• Past Experience
• Training
• Related Reaction
• Anticipated Reaction
• Anxiety a state of increased alertness that
  permits maximum psychological and physiological
  performance
• Anxiety a conscious and painful state of
  apprehension unrelated to an external threat.

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Reaction to Stressors General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS)

• Alarm - Emergency reaction fight or flight
• Resistance
• Exhaustion

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Changes to the Body at the Alarm Stage

• Heart Rate increase
• Blood pressure increase
• Large muscle groups tense
• Adrenaline rush
• Increase blood sugar
• Hypervigilance
• Pupils dilate
• Increased hearing acuity
• Increased blood clotting
• Increased metabolism
• Blood flow increases to heart, lungs and large
  muscles

• Perspiration
• Digestive secretions slow
• Dry mouth due to saliva decrease
• Bowel activity decreases
• Extremities become cool
• Sphincters tighten
• More white blood cells enter bloodstream
• Cholesterol remains in the blood longer
• Dilation of the lung passages and increased
  respiration

Page 437
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Resistance Stage

• If stress continues
• Adaptation is optimal
• The organism reacts
• Alarm stage symptoms disappear
• The person acts

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Exhaustion

• Excessive hormonal secretions have taken place
• Can cause physical maladiesulcers, high blood
  pressure, chronic fatigue, heart attack, and
  other symptoms

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Causes of Police Stress

• Organizational practices and characteristics
• Criminal justice system practices and
  characteristics
• Public practices and characteristics
• The nature of police work itself

• Police Stressors Ranked by Mean Scores Page 443

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Ten Condemn-nents of Police Stress (J. M.
Violanti)

• Give officers rigorous military style training
  and completely reorient their lives.
• Dress them in a conspicuous uniform and place
  them in a public place.
• Allow the court system to scrutinize their every
  action as an officer and seldom grant them
  favorable results.
• Demand that they be disciplined, orderly, and
  patient, no matter what others do to them.
• Have them walk a narrow fence between
  departmental discipline and public condemnation.

• Offer little support for them, their families, or
  their personal problems.
• Call them jerks when they give you a ticked, and
  then complain that they are never around when
  needed.
• Criticize or gawk at them while they are eating
  in a restaurant. Disturb their meal.
• Force them to live their occupation 34 hours a
  day in a glass house.
• Give them a gun and ask them to make life or
  death decisions in a split second.

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Stress Symptoms Checklist

• Trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep
• Nightmares
• Feeling anxious and tense
• Sweating (when not exercising)
• Blurred vision
• Skin rash
• Irregular menstruation
• Restlessness
• Itching
• Biting Nails
• Shaking or trembling
• Chest pains

• Impatience
• Irritability
• Thoughts of hurting others
• Feeling inferior to others
• Feeling unattractive
• Feeling lonely
• Decreased interest in social activities
• Blaming self
• Oversleeping
• Awakening too early in the morning
• Grinding Teeth

Continued
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Stress Symptoms Checklist Continued

• Tightness in jab
• Tension headaches
• Muscular stiffness and aches
• Nervous tics and mannerisms
• Cold hands or feet
• High blood pressure
• Racing heart or palpitations
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea, upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Appetite loss/or gain
• Increase in alcohol or medication

• Upper respiratory colds
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Memory blanks
• Rush of ideas
• Daydreaming
• Confusion
• Poor concentration
• Indecision
• Worrying
• Persistent intrusive thoughts
• Feeling of impending danger
• Desire to escape or hide
• Feel tight bands around head or body

Continued
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Stress Symptoms Checklist Continued

• Sense of choking or tightness in throat
• Numbness in parts of the body
• Muscular weakness in part of th ebody
• Decreased sex interest
• Feeling guilt, shame, or embarrassment
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Apathy, complacency
• Lack of pleasure in things
• Feeling depressed
• Crying spells
• Feeling trapped
• Future looks hopeless

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Police Stress Problems

• Alcoholism
• Drug use
• Anabolic Steroids
• Suicide
• Domestic Violence
• Violence or Aggression

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Indicators of Stress

• Alcoholism/Drugs
• Sudden Behavior Changes
• Slow change in behavior, deterioration of
  positive behaviors
• Erratic work habits
• Increased Sick Time
• Cant maintain a train of thought
• Excessive Worrying

• Grandiose behavior
• Fatigue
• Peer Complaints
• Citizen Complaints
• Consistently Picking on People
• Sexual Promiscuity
• Excessive Accidents
• Excessive Injuries
• Manipulation of Other Officers or Citizens

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Responding to Stress

• Exercise (20 mins. 3 times per week)
• Proper diet (not the 5 cop food groups -- grease,
  coffee, spice, salt, and donuts)
• Adequate rest
• Leisure interests (hobbies)
• Meditating and praying
• Avoid smoking and drinking
• Establish support groups
• Network of friends (including people outside
  cops)
• Monitoring yourself and your problems/opportunitie
  s
• Relaxation techniques
• Reasonable expectations (career and life)

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Meditation

• Fish
• Tai Chi
• Candle
• Red Ball

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Go Away.

• Questions First????????????????

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Relaxation