1. Policing in America 7th Edition
Chapter 8
Professor Sean Varano

2. Chapter Objectives Understand the concept of the “police (sub)culture
Analyze the impact of the various theoretical approaches to police cultures
Analyze the effects of the policing profession on the subculture
Under the concept of the “symbolic assailant”

3. Police (Sub)Culture
Aspects of certain professions can create “cultures” or “orientations” unique to that profession
Subcultures exist within larger cultures
There may be a culture to policing that is different from the dominate culture
Theoretical explanations differ on the sources of the subculture
Predispositional Model
Professionalization Model

4. Theoretical Perspectives on Police Culture
Psychological Perspect.
Sociological Perspect.
Basic personality thought to be “fixed”
Predispositional model
Certain “types” of people are attracted to policing
Authoritarian personality
Policing attracts persons that are conservative, aggressive, cynical, and rigid
Like military, likely to conform to authority
Police “personality” learned as part of socialization processes
No more authoritarian than people with similar backgrounds
Formal training and informal socialization processes change new officers
Police change over time

5. Models of Police Behavior

6. Typologies of Officers
Police can be differentiated based on their orientation toward the job
Orientations Differ:
Legalistic/Crime Fighter: Strict enforcement of laws
Problem Solvers
Service/Community Oriented
Officer Orientations Effected By:
Background of officers
Pre-employment exposure (through fathers, uncles, etc)
Departmental Practices/culture

7. Elements of Police Culture
Law shapes and defines interactions between police and society
Gives officers legal authority over others;
To use force or coercion over others
World View
The manner in which a group sees the world and its relationship to the world
We vs. They Mentality;
Citizens as Symbolic Assailants
Danger (real or perceived) frame much of the general outlook of policing
Research shows not the most dangerous profession

8. Elements of Police Culture
Danger and need for bravery critical
Desire for autonomy
Code of secrecy
Plus, “We v. They”; Real potential for error
Police isolation
Some self-imposed; other job related
Sense of Solidarity
“We vs. They” is powerful
Importance may change over time; over career

9. Sources of Police Stress
Life-Threatening Stressors
Social Isolation Stressors
Organizational Stressors
Functional Stressors
Personal Stressors
Physiological Stressors
Psychological Stressors

10. Potential Negative Effects of Stress
Suicide
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Divorce
Heart Disease
Mortality
Ulcers & Digestive Disorders
Colon & Liver Cancer
Diabetes

11. Factors Contributing to Police Suicide
Abuse of Alcohol & Drugs
Deviance & Corruption
Access to Firearms
Depression
Male Organizations
Family & Economic Problems
Alienation & Cynicism
Role Conflict
Physical & Mental Problems

12. Summary
While policing may attract certain “kinds” of people, the prevailing idea is that police work changes people
Policing represents a unique subculture – different from the dominate culture
Aspects of police work give police shared experiences, shared attitudes, and learned behaviors that make them distinct
Such shared experiences can be quite detrimental