Abstract
Psychoanalytic theory is applied to police crisis situations involving the mentally disturbed. After noting shortcomings of the traditional, commonsensical ways of dealing with such individuals, a discussion of thestrengths of a psychoanalytic method ispresented. It is argued thatpolice officers can achieve greater control in a psychiatric disturbance situation if they conceive of and treat the person more like a system offorces than a set ofpersonality characteristics. Concrete examples are discussed illustrating the method advocated.

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