NCJ Number
177367
Journal
Gazette Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: April 1999 Pages: 8-14
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines how police officers can deal with the stress caused by critical incidents or traumatic events, and denial is discussed as a coping strategy used by most police officers who find themselves in crisis situations.
Abstract
The relationship between experiencing a traumatic event and positive adjustment is addressed in the literature on stress and coping. Coping behavior determines adaptational outcomes and is the process by which a person manages demands and emotions resulting from crisis situations. Three domains of coping strategies have been identified both conceptually and empirically that affect crisis outcomes. Problem-focused coping involves seeking information and support, taking action, and identifying rewards. In emotion-focused coping, the emphasis is on affective regulation, emotional discharge, and resigned acceptance. Appraisal-focused coping involves cognitive redefining, logical analysis, and cognitive avoidance. Studies on how coping processes mediate positive adjustment outcomes are reported, and cognitive defenses in critical incident stress are discussed. Three main categories of coping strategies are described--simple denial, rationalization, and focusing on work. Pre-trauma and post-trauma training and intervention for police officers are considered, as well as critical incident stress debriefing techniques. 28 references and 1 photograph