Recurring exposure to death-related traumatic events and the psychological and physiologial well-being of police officers
Loading...
Authors
Cranmer PA-C, Ian Gordon
Issue Date
2002
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Forensic sciences
Alternative Title
Abstract
Every human being develops defense mechanisms and coping strategies in order to deal with the stresses and traumas of life. However, constant exposure to traumatic and stressful events can cause these mechanisms and strategies to malfunction and eventually collapse, particularly when the individual has been exposed to extraordinary evens on a recurring basis. Accordingly, constant exposure to corpses and death scenes can cause a police officer, regardless of training or temperament, to be pushed to his/her psychological limit, at which point her physical and psychological health is placed in jeopardy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the psychological effects that repeated exposure to events relating to death (e.g., extreme violence, homicide, exposure to corpses) have on a police officer’s psychological well-being. It will be argued that such effects have physiological effects as well, and can result in a host of physical maladies.