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Description: Police officers often experience traumatic events with far greater frequency than the average citizen yet little is known about how they process these events or how this relates to recovery. This study presents the development and initial validation of a cognitive appraisal instrument designed to capture to police officers' experiences of trauma. Results indicated that officers' cognitive appraisals (particularly their perceptions of how the event overlapped with or impacted their personal lives) were more predictive of their response to trauma than years of experience or the severity of the event. The implications of these results for the treatment and training of officers are discussed.
Suggested Citation:
Colwell, L.H., Lyons, P.M., Bruce, A.J., Garner, R.L., & Miller, R.S. (2011). Police officers'
cognitive appraisals for traumatic events: Implications for treatment and training [Electronic Version]. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice,
7(2), 106-132.
Keywords: police officers, traumatic events, cognitive appraisals, police trauma
Date: Dec 16, 2011 | File Size: 503.88 Kb | Downloads: 2119