Thesis
Analysis of police officer personalities: examination of the big five traits and emotional expressivity
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102622
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine police officer personalities, specifically the Big Five personality traits and the concept of emotional expressivity. Personality traits play an important role in police selection. Previous research shows a correlation between conscientiousness and job performance. In relation to emotional expressivity, research found that officers have low levels of emotional-management strategies (Pogrebin & Poole, 1991). Though both emotional expressivity and personality traits have been well established as relevant to police work in research, they have yet to be linked together in law enforcement. By using the BFI-54 (Big Five Inventory, John, Smith, & Kentle, 1991) and EES (Emotional Expressivity Scale, Kring, Smith, & Neale, 1994), the relationship between personality traits and emotional expressivity was examined in a sample of Washington state law enforcement officers (n = 48). Results found a range of personality traits, though the dominant personality trait across the sample regardless of location was conscientiousness. Rural police officers were found to be more agreeable than urban police officers. Lastly, there was no correlation found between specific personality traits and emotional expressivity. Additional results and implications for further research and development are also discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Analysis of police officer personalities
- Creators
- Alisha Grow
- Contributors
- David C. Brody (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Criminal Justice and Criminology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525187201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis