A Self-Report Approach to Screening Police Candidates’ Aggressive Tendencies

Author

Frank Joseph Gallo, University of Rhode Island

Date of Award

2005

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Charles E. Collyer

Abstract

This paper introduces the concepts of labeling (detection of aggressive severity) and provocation (response to directed aggression) as meaningful dimensions for evaluating police candidates’ patterns of aggressive tendencies. The evaluation uses candidates’ judgements on instances of suspect behaviors during hypothetical arrest situations. Findings showed that candidates agreed on an ordered continua of behavior severity, alpha = 0.99. One was able to predict very well candidates’ provocation tendencies from knowing their labeling tendencies were related and vice versa, r² = 0.76. Labeling and provocation tendencies were related to other established measures of aggression (e.g., Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, 1992). I discuss potential applications of candidates’ labeling and provocation tendencies for us in police training sessions and employment evaluations.

Recommended Citation

Gallo, Frank Joseph, "A Self-Report Approach to Screening Police Candidates’ Aggressive Tendencies" (2005). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 1124.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/1124