The Self Reported Anger and Aggression of Police Officers

McEntee, Bryan (2005) The Self Reported Anger and Aggression of Police Officers. Master's, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University.

Abstract

The occupation of police officer is a profession with many unique characteristics. Research on police work has shown that officers are continuously exposed to threats, must maintain a constant vigilance against crime, feel as if they must be in control of every situation, and work in a profession in which the attribution of blame is common. This type of working environment can be very stressful. Past research has shown that stress can lead to anger and acts of aggression. The present study examined anger and aggression in police officers. The sample consisted of officers from the Waterbury, Connecticut Police Department, as well as undergraduate students studying criminal justice at Central Connecticut State University. The data failed to support the hypothesis that police officers would have higher scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) than criminal justice undergraduate students. Additionally, the data marginally supported the hypothesis that veteran officers would have higher BDHI scores than less experienced police officers. Future studies need to examine additional police departments in varying sizes and locales.