By
George
Anderson, MSW, BCD, CAMF
Diplomate,
American Association of Anger Management Providers
Research on the incorporation of
Emotional Intelligence into the training of police officers at the present time
is limited. However, it is clear that the popular notion that police officers
are somehow immune to the extreme stresses associated with the day-to-day
experience of policing is unrealistic.
During training in the various
police academies, physical and emotional resiliency along with toughness
reserved for “the force” is grilled into new recruits. Empathy, emotional
self-awareness, compassion, assertiveness, social awareness, flexibility,
impulse control or other Emotional Intelligence competencies are rarely
considered.
According to a Geoffrey Seville
writing in The Police Chief Magazine in a article entitled, Emotional
Intelligence Policing: “Most police training and education efforts have
downplayed if not ignored the role of emotions. Often, academy educators leave
it to field trainers to help new officers through emotionally charged and
stressful situations. Departments occasionally provide stress management
programs or use untrained mentors to help officers manage their emotions. But
few of these approaches consider emotional intelligence.”
Successful surgeons, fire
fighters, customer service staff and law enforcement professionals score in the
high range for self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, empathy, stress
tolerance and impulse control. Individuals with higher levels of emotional
intelligence are better able to recognize and manage their behavior, have more
positive interpersonal interactions, and engage in fewer problem behaviors including
aggressive or violent acts.
It appears that officers who are
able to increase their EI have a distinct advantage, both personally and
professionally, in a number of important areas, including self-control,
decision making, and interpersonal skills.
Anderson & Anderson, APC has
provided coaching for uniformed officers from 6 different law enforcement
agencies in Southern California.
Here are the Pre and Post
Assessment results for one officer who completed our six- month Emotional
Intelligence Program for Impulse Control. The assessment used is the
internationally recognized EQ-i-2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment. These
results are similar to those of other officers who have been seen in our
program. It is clear that the experience of one client does not represent a
sample of anything. However, it may offer a hint of the value of including
emotional intelligence skill enhancement in the training of law enforcement
personnel as well as coaching for impulse control.
Total EI 83 out of 130
Self-Perception Composite 81
Self-Regard 59
Self-Actualization 91
Emotional Self-Awareness 111
Self-Expression Composite 79
Emotional Expression 82
Assertiveness 77
Independence 90
Interpersonal Composite 100
Interpersonal Relationships 108
Empathy 102
Social Responsibility 87
Decision Making Composite 92
Problem Solving 102
Reality Testing 100
Impulse Control 80
Stress Management Composite 74
Flexibility 72
Stress Tolerance 99
Optimism 64
70 Low Range 90 Mid
Range 110 High Range 130
A careful review of the Pre
Assessment results reveals that seven out of the client’s fifteen scores are in
the Low Range, 70-90, five fall in the Mid-Range and only one in the
High-Range. These are the type of scores that place professionals and leaders at
risk for career derailment.
Lets take a look at the Post
Assessment Results for this same officer after six months of Emotional
Intelligence Coaching for Impulse Control.
Total EI 99 out of 130
Self-Perception Composite 103
Self-Regard 92
Self-Actualization 102
Emotional Self-Awareness 116
Self-Expression Composite 103
Emotional Expression 102
Assertiveness 103
Independence 104
Interpersonal Composite 104
Interpersonal Relationships 106
Empathy 104
Social Responsibility 99
Decision Making Composite 91
Problem Solving 96
Reality Testing 98
Impulse Control 107
Stress Management Composite 95
Flexibility 91
Stress Tolerance 98
Optimism 97
70 Low Range 90 Mid
Range 110 High Range 130
The post assessment results
indicate that none of the clients’ scores are in the low range. Sixteen scores
are in the Mid-Range and one score is in the High Range. It may be worth noting
that his optimism score increased from a low of 64 to 97. Emotional
Intelligence Coaching is a promising intervention for enhancing impulse control
in law enforcement professionals.
Anderson & Anderson, APC is
the largest provider of Executive Coaching for “disruptive physicians’ in the
nation and a major provider of Emotional Intelligence Coaching for Impulse
Control.
