Do you believe it takes a certain personality type to be a police officer?

John M.

In order to ensure retention, police agencies tend to look for individuals who are highly routine-oriented. Police work is 98% boring. Individuals who take satisfaction in performing routine, highly structured tasks and who are responsive to strictly ordered work environments are considered the best candidates. This is one reason why military service is considered a benefit, in addition to the weapons training and physical fitness components.

Also, they seek individuals who have high self-esteem and who are socially-oriented. Police offcers who firmly believe that there is always absolute right and absolute wrong, and who are able to view their own actions in these terms generally tend to question their own actions less, and therefore experience less mental stress than other personality types.

Some police agencies do screen for candidates with average intelligence, since they have found that individuals with higher IQ test scores will, on average, tend to quit after 2-5 years. In fact, in Connecticut recently, there was newspaper story about a man who was rejected due to a high IQ score. Many agencies do not test for IQ directly, but studies show that as a class, veteran police officers tend to have an IQ that is average or very slightly above average, around 104.

Beyond the above, the desired personality type for an officer is a long list of disqualifying negative personality traits. These disqualifying factors tend to focus on depression, anxiety, self-doubt, self-reproach, or a history of mental illness of any type. Anger issues are obviously unacceptable, as is inability to recognize personal faults as pointed out by superior officers, or to respond well to authority. (For this reason, tests often try to screen for individuals who are "joiners." Many officers will have a history of involvement in clubs and other fraternal-type organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, from a very young age.)

Of course, there is a limit to what psychological tests can accomplish, the tests are fallible, and often-times the tests are disregarded by hiring committees, or not used as a final determining factor. Generally, there will be a large pool of people who are qualified psychologically, and final hiring decisions are made on other grounds. Much more important is how a candidate views the job itself: Do they view it as a form of service to others, or is it an opportunity to play George Patton? Each individual's private answers to these questions often has a far more important effect on their behavior once hired.

Strong attention is also paid to any signs of past deciptive behavior. Any incidents of lying to an employer are generally disqualifying. Police agencies, for obvious reasons, attempt to find individuals who place a high value on absolute truth and absolute compliance with rules.

Psychological studies indicate that, speaking very broadly, police officers tend to have the following traits in greater proportion than the rest of the population:

-Histrionic personality type. Tend to feel more comfortable viewing situations in black and white.
-Tend to form emotionally immature personal relationships--
70% of police officers after 3 years are in divorce or separated.
-Greater incidence of obsessive-compulsive personality type.
-Tend to be very action-oriented.
-Tend toward more immediate gratification.
-Tend to be more easily disillusioned by what they learn of others.
-Have a strong need to be needed, and tend to be comfortable in situations were they are able to be in control. If they cannot be in control personally, will feel comfortable under the strict control of a trusted superior.
-Tend to feel a strong need to fit in among their peers.

Obviously there are certain personality types which are unsuitable for police-work, but there is probably not a single personality type which is absolutely necessary.

Many of the components of police psychological tests are focused on factors relating to job retention rates, and may, or may not, reflect the ideal personality type from the perspective of the public.

maxmom

Yes, somewhat.

A timid person would not fare well since the fear of getting hurt would probably interfere with them doing their job.

TheKiddo

Yes - You should possess the following values: integrity, honesty, professionalism, compassion, respect and accountability.

Roz

YES number one is integrity number two is belief that innocent people need his protection, number three a sense of self worth, a belief in a God, and number four knowing right from wrong and enforcing it.

keep your head down brothers and sisters

Agit8r

Yes it does. You cannot be passive. You have to be fairly tough, but not too mean and have excellent problem skills.

psdiver

Yes, you have to be a PIG, which is Pride, Integrity, and GUTS. You have to be caring and compassionate, have a strong moral sense, be able to differentiate between BS and the facts, and above all be diligent in all aspects of your job and personal life.

Solidus

In the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) there is one trait that they look for:
Integrity.

The recruitment process is intimidating because they pretty much invade your privacy.
The theory being a person with integrity has nothing to hide.

Just because you have a blotch on your profile doesn't mean you're automatically denied.
For example, it's okay if (at one point) you've tried drugs and you've mentioned it in your interview.
BUT, if you've lied about it, they drop you like Paris Hilton's underwear.

I hope my answer helps.

swat

so many police haters... first thing police officer do not have low self esteem ( i want to be a police officer and i don't have low self esteem)

god the police hating nerds will say anything because they got a traffic ticket

Dont get Infected

absolutely. the best part about it is people can learn the personality type of being a police officer. just like people in the Military learn. in the military when people join they are dumb kids that need to be molded into sharp men and women.

tmilestc

Someone with control and anger management issues. Most likely a sadist and less then average IQ looking for self fulfillment they cannot get in life without the ego boosting of the gun, badge uniform and a gang of like minded thugs to back them up after they make bad decisions. These are statistical facts. And the so called screening process is a joke. Case in point
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352434,00.html

Elva

you must
Actually, it takes talent
Not all people have the ability to see people that are dead or survive at violent scenes.
there are people that will go stiff and throw up just from seeing a dead body, while there are others that don't get affected at all from cutting people open and examining them AKA forensic scientists (which are few)

Mc Fly

I am the most law abiding cat you would ever meet, and I HATE THE POLICE, It is a shame, becouse being a police officer is really a noble job in theory and I am sure there have got to be some good ones out there but for the most part thier personality is based on self centeredness, low selfesteem and an overwhelming compulsion to bully people around.

The people I worked with were "A" typical personalities. We were all-athletic, and had to be number one in whatever we did. Especially in the Highway Patrol Unit. Men and women officers alike.

However, aside from alpha personalities there were many omegas, they wound up riding a desk.

If you have fortitude, perseverance, impartiality, street smarts as well as academic smarts, a strong spine in order to witness the most horrendous sights that you can imagine, and a compassionate heart - then that personality would do just fine!
EDIT: JAS B - Where do you get your information from, that the general populace doesn't like the police? That is the most inane, and imbecilic thing I have read on YA - and I have read some doosies from moronic individuals on here - but you take the cake. I am sure you also believe in conspiracy theories, and the tooth fairy. Yours is just an opinion, backed up by NOTHING - referenced by NOTHING. You certainly have an awful large amount of anger in your heart - I would guess that you were turned down for our vocation, and this is your way of lashing out - grow up and grab a clue (no pun).

trooper3316

When I was in the Academy, we took the Myers Briggs personality test. There is a link below that describes it. Your personality type is grouped into four categories. Mine is ESTP. After the test, the instructor was able to point out every ex-military person in the room (8 out of 30) because they were all this type.

Apparently certain personalities are attracted to the strict order and rank structure of the military, along with wearing a prescribed uniform. This also explains why these same types are drawn to law enforcement.

If you review the ESTP personality type, you will see several characteristics which are compatible with law enforcement, including: observing; resourceful; troubleshooter; and action orientated.

EmoRock

and to Mr. (JAS B.) who answered above, your logic is terribly flawed and only shows your stupidity and disgracfulness for Law officers. It takes selfless service to be a Law Enforcement Officer and Commands Great Respect and Someone who can maintain the publics trust while having great power.

Malcolm Equis

Not really, but the job does attract men with certain personalities. From what I've seen (I have worked extensively with cops in the past), women of all personality types join; but there is only one kind of man who does.

And that man is someone who grows up with a distant father and overdoting mother. The father pays very little attention, and when he does its usually only to discipline the child.

The child grows up feeling severely under-respected. Its made even worse by an over-doting mother who lets him do whatever he wants. He still gets attention, but he is unable to discern what actions gain good respectful attention (since all actions gain respect and love from the mother) and what actions lose respect.

His inability to discern good actions from bad actions usually loses him respect among friends and peers. He feels he deserves respect, but never gets it. And he cannot figure out why.

Then he sees the badge, handcuffs, and gun of the police officer. These items speak to him, they are attention getters; and the child also believes they command respect.

So he joins the police force so that he can also share in that respect. He is given the speeches about how "we are the law around here" and you have to take command of situations. And this is ALWAYS misinterpreted.

They get to a bad situation and always try to force everything into working; rather than working with all parties to resolve the situation. The past reputation of cops isn't helping either; this "blowhard" speaking by the cop is percieved by everyone he talks to as the cop talking down to everyone.

So the suspects and victims all feel disrespected; and in turn give disrespect. The cop is now confused by the fact that he has the items that should command respect (gun, badge, uniform, and the law behind him), and he is still not getting respect. And he responds by adding to his own disrespect for others.

Eventually, since no one respects him, he becomes disillusioned. He believes everyone is evil and a criminal just trying to weasel out of a bad situation. And so he treats everyone with more and more disrespect. And the reputation of cops continues...

Add-on:

To EmoRock below...

I might remind you that the police don't generally have the respect of the general populace. I might also point out that the reason they don't have the respect of the populace is that the populace believes they abuse their power, and not without justification for that belief.

I am not the one showing "disgracefulness" to the police officers; they are the ones displaying it themselves. I am simply explaining why that is so. And I would point out that the police, while part of the problem, are not the sole cause of the problem. I placed blame with everyone who is to blame; police included but certainly not limited to police.

cantcu

Yes, and many with personality disorders! They are usually into power! Not all, but many! And if they don't have them when they join, they do shortly thereafter!

Phil Anders

yeah, the type that likes crushing in unarmed people's skulls with steel-toed boots, all the while giggling gleefully like a school girl. Then making a quick disappearance when someone tougher shows up.

Mesh

You have to have some vendetta against society.

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