Deck 13: Stress and Police Personnel

Question 1

According to Hans Selye, which statement about stress is most accurate?

A) Stress is always positive.
B) stress is always negative.
C) Most stressful events threaten people and provide them with insurmountable programs.
D) Many stressful events do not threaten people, but provide them with pleasurable challenges.

Answer 1

Many stressful events do not threaten people, but provide them with pleasurable challenges.

Question 2

Selye has formulated what he calls the General Adaptation Syndrome to describe how the biological level of stress can incapacitate an individual. Which statement is not part of the General Adaptation Syndrome?

A) Insistence.
B) Alarm.
C) Resistance.
D) Exhaustion.

Answer 2

Insistence.

Question 3

Most people adjust their behavior to daily stress according to their adaptive range. At the high end of the range, when a person encounters an extremely demanding situation, his or her first reaction is usually:

A) Anxiety.
B) Overload.
C) Loss of ability to improvise.
D) A more primitive response to problem solving.

Answer 3

Anxiety.

Question 4

A type A personality type exhibits all of the following characteristics except:

A) Continuous pressure to accomplish.
B) Friendly and easy-going.
C) Intense and ambitious.
D) Continuous impatience.

Question 5

Which of the following was not ranked in the top five police stressors by Violanti and Aron?

A) Fellow officer killed.
B) Battered child.
C) Physical attack.
D) Felony in progress.

Question 6

According to a study completed by Violanti and Aron, the most potent stressor indicated by police officers was:

A) A fellow officer being killed.
B) A physical attack.
C) A battered child.
D) the killing of someone in the line of duty.

Question 7

Alcohol related problems among police officers manifest themselves in a number of ways. Which is not usually one of the ways?

A) Higher than normal absenteeism prior to and immediately before the officer's regular days off.
B) Assaulting their wives and children.
C) Complaints of insubordination by superiors.
D) Complaints by citizens of misconduct in the form of verbal and physical abuse.

Question 8

Which of the following was not a benefit indicated by the Denver Police Department with its alcohol rehabilitation program?

A) There was a reduction in police officer domestic violence.
B) Retention of the majority of officers who had suffered from alcoholism.
C) Solution of a set of complex and difficult personnel problems.
D) Realistic and practical extension of the police agency's program into the entire city government structure.

Question 9

A national study of drug abuse by police officers revealed that what percentage of officers had serious drug problems?

A) 5
B) 15
C) 10
D) 20

Question 10

Adverse effects of anabolic steroid use by women include:

A) Breast enlargement.
B) Baldness.
C) Higher-pitched voice.
D) All of the above.

Question 11

Which of the following is an indicator of Suicide by Cop?

A) He just killed a significant other in his life, especially if the victim was a child or the subject's mother.
B) He generally comes from a middle-class background.
C) He appears to be looking for a macho or manly way to die.
D) He has recently given away money or personal possessions.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a common characteristic associated with critical incident stress?

A) It often leads to police officer suicide.
B) The event is sudden and expected.
C) The event is a threat to the officer's existence or well-being.
D) The event may include some element of law, such as of a partner or some physical ability.

Question 13

Which of the following is not accurate as it relates to police officer domestic violence?

A) There are no guidelines in the pre-employment screening and investigation of police applicants to assist in determining whether they are prone to engaging in domestic violence.
B) During the background investigation, a check should be made for restraining orders issued in any jurisdiction where a police candidate has lived.
C) The department must be clear with all officers when it comes to domestic violence that the department has a zero tolerance policy.
D) The department needs to provide officers and their families with non-punitive avenues of support and assistance when incidents of domestic violence occur.

Question 14

Which of the following is most accurate regarding employee assistance programs?

A) No programs existed until the 1990s.
B) The growth of assistance programs in law enforcement can be traced back to the early 1950s.
C) The majority of law enforcement agencies with 100 or more officers still have no written policies regarding providing counseling and assistance services for their officers.
D) The development of an employee assistance program should be done exclusively by management, since they bring a high level of expertise to the endeavor.

Question 15

Which of the following is the most common method that officers use to commit suicide?

A) Sleeping pills.
B) Hanging.
C) Service weapon.
D) Automobile crash.

Question 16

When should supervisors schedule interviews with officers?

A) When they appear depressed.
B) When they are discouraged.
C) When they appear anxious.
D) All of the above.

Question 17

A study by Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman determined sources of work satisfaction for police officers. The contribution that appeared most valued is:

A) Calls involving citizens who are manifestly helpless.
B) Exercises in verbal ingenuity.
C) Receiving feedback on their influence.
D) None of the above.

Question 18

A warning sign that may indicate a likelihood of violent behavior includes which of the following?

A) Frequent tardiness.
B) Use of force in arrest situations.
C) Verbal disputes.
D) All of the above.

Question 19

Programs made available by employers to help employees having personal or occupational difficulties are known as:

A) Employee intervention programs.
B) Employee confidential services.
C) Employee assistance programs.
D) Employee support programs.

Question 20

All of the following are common symptoms of PTSD except:

A) Weakness and fatigue.
B) Nausea.
C) Temporary blindness.
D) Panic attacks.

Question 21

Although precise figures are not available to substantiate a high incidence of alcoholism among police officers, police officials have reported informally that as many as ____________% of the officers in their respective departments have serious alcohol problems.

Question 22

Departments need to provide officers and their families ____________ avenues of support and assistance before an incident of domestic violence occurs.

Question 23

The selection of officers for drug testing must be truly ____________ and part of a clearly articulated drug testing policy.

Question 24

Although not physically addicting, steroids can cause ____________ dependence.

Question 25

During the ____________, hormonal defenses break down, and many emotional reactions may reappear, often in intensified form.

Question 26

Typical ____________ are often agitated and depressed when not working.

Question 27

Studies of police departments have revealed that ____________ are more common among older officers and are related to alcoholism, physical illness, or impending retirement.

Question 28

Officers cite two sources of satisfaction that have to do with ____________. One focused on the solidarity and loyalty of the police force, the other on relationships with partners and other work associates.

Question 29

Police departments must make it clear to all officers that the department has a ____________ policy

Question 30

Police officers are encouraged to eliminate or reduce stress by engaging in ____________, such as exercise and medication.

Question 31

Describe the three stages of the general adaptation syndrome, as described by Hans Selye.

Question 32

What are the major characteristics of type A personalities, type B personalities, and workaholics?

Question 33

What are the five basic phases of the post-shooting reaction?

Question 34

Describe some of the issues that police administrators must deal with in terms of drug use by police officers within their agencies.

Question 35

What sources of work satisfaction are stress reducers?

Question 36

What are some examples of so-called stress inoculation activities?

Question 37

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Will "play to win" at all games

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 38

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Under constant stress

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 39

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Easygoing

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 40

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Ambitions are kept in perspective

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 41

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Sense of time urgency

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 42

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Continuous pressure to accomplish

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 43

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Constantly multitasking

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 44

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Intense and ambitious

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 45

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Obsessed with perfection in their work

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 46

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding personality type in Column 2. Each item in Column 2 will be used more than once. Some characteristics will have multiple correct personality types.

-Generally philosophical about life

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Workaholic

Question 47

How might a law enforcement officer with a type A personality approach his or her job compared with an officer who is s a type B personality.

Question 48

Do you believe that random drug testing is necessary among police officers? Why or why not?

Question 49

Assume that you are a police sergeant who supervises ten patrol officers on your squad. You have noticed signs of alcohol abuse regarding two of your officers. What steps have you taken to remedy this situation?

Question 50

In your estimation, how should police administrators deal with suspected drug problems within their police officer workforce?

Question 51

Identify three situations in your own life that have created stress for you within the last six months and how did you seek to remedy those situations?