Understanding One's Clients: An Attempt to Improve Sensitivity and Morale in Police Recruits

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Abstract
Recognizing that effective police work demands sensitivity to human behavior and motivation, the importance of police selection and training procedures as they affect human interactional skills becomes apparent. A program of assessment was described. Recruits beginning training were somewhat alienated and possessed no unusual sensitivity to people. Academy training, buttressed by additional experiences (cognitive training in the behavioral and social sciences for one group; affective-experiential training for conflict management for a second group) did not affect sensitivity, alienation, or police cynicism, as measured. The recruits, however, judged the latter training experience as more worthwhile for policemen. Recruits' lack of trust in authority was among the considerations discussed.

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