Understanding emotion as a strategy in policing
| Author | Kevin Sweeney |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211018496 |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Understanding emotion as
a strategy in policing
Kevin Sweeney
Department of Criminology, University College Cork,
Cork, Ireland
Abstract
This article reviews neuroscience and cognitive psychology literature to understand how
trauma and emotion impact policing and why some strategies are counterproductive by
threateningpolice legitimacy. This reviewfurther illuminates the pernicious effect ofstress
in the policing environment, in both officer and citizen. Therefore, the article makes the
point that the current focus on tactical training and the ‘warrior ethos’ diminishes com-
munity policing values, destroys trust, undermines respect and discourages cooperation
while fostering resentment and hostility thus makingeveryday policing more hazardous.It
argues that community policing strategies offer the only path for successful consensus
policing in a democracy.
Keywords
Policing strategies, emotion, legitimacy, trauma, trust, community policing
Introduction
In his ‘Principles of Law Enforcement’ in 1829 Robert Peel elucidated the concept of
policing by consent in a democracy. These included the need for public approval of the
police and the maintenance of public respect, proportionality in the use of force, and
preserving public favour by impartial service to the law. The concept that police officers
are citizens in uniform as opposed to an occupying military force was made explicit. The
police would be trusted as the legitimate law enforcement agency and this was to be
achieved by adhering to procedural justice through the law and principles of fairness.
It could be argued that in some communities in the United States this model of policing is
no longer the dominant operating model. The consequences of this paradigm shift
include calls to defund the police as the Black Lives Matter movement protests the use
of lethal force by the police.
Corresponding author:
Kevin Sweeney, Department of Criminology, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
Email: kevin.sweeney@ucc.ie
The Police Journal:
Theory, Practice and Principles
ªThe Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211018496
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2022, Vol. 95(3) 473–491
474 The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles 95(3)
In order to understand some of the factors behind this shift it is necessary to adopt an
ecological perspective that ‘emphasizes the interrelationships between individuals and
the contexts in which they reside and the reciprocal, interactive processes occurring
between macro- and micro-level contexts’ (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Harney, 2007: 75).
To do this the article begins by examining the emotional brain that is responsible for
much of human behaviour and decision-making. Contrary to modern managerialism,
rational behaviour is rare, at least in the real world. Emotion drives behaviour as it has
always done in our evolutionary past. By understanding this process we can develop
policies in policing that are effective and help communities be safe. This knowledge is
already utilized in some elements of police work but not in any overarching strategic
manner. For example, both de-escala tion training and hostage negotiation skill s are
based on emotional needs. Similarly, community policing is built on the principle of
establishing trust.
On the other hand, some trends in policing such as the growing militarization and rise
of the ‘warrior ethos’ in policing can also be understood from an emotional perspective
and the long-term negative outcome of such trends can be predicted. This trend is now
particularly evident in the United States and this article focuses on this jurisdiction to
illustrate the arc of policing development and the consequences of failing to understand
the power of emotions.
The article acknowledges that policing is a dangerous profession and that it is unfair
that many problems in society are left to the police to resolve which are beyond their
remit or ability to do so. Issues such as a lack of mental health facilities, homelessness or
poverty create the ecology that many police work in daily trying to help as many people
as possible but with no enduring solutions. This creates stres s and is only one of a
number of stressors that are faced regularly. The management of this stress is often left
to the individual officer. Likewise, some family units and communities generate stressful
environments for residents and methods of coping include aggression to maintain a sense
of self-respect. At the extreme end of behaviour, stress can generate trauma that exacer-
bates emotional responses. Police training needs to develop the understanding of the
pernicious effects of trauma in both citizens and officers and the potential for below
optimal outcomes in their interactions as a consequence. Policies and strategies need to
understand that police legitimacy is about trust that is easily lost but very difficult to
regain. It is nonetheless vital for creating safe communi ties and good police citizen
relationships.
Emotion
Emotions are a part of our evolutionary heritage that help us survive. Together with
simple reflexes, pain sensations, and homeostasis maintenance they provide scripted
responses when faced with certain circumstances (Damasio, 2000, 2004). Some psycho-
logical literature suggest an Appraisal Theory of emotions with a requirement to have
cognitive awareness precede emotion (e.g. see Niendenthal and Ric, 2017). Social Con-
struction Theory suggests that emotions are learned through family interactions (e.g.
Barrett, 2017). However, responses prepare the body to react to each circumstance in a
maximally beneficial manner to avoid danger or take an opportunity, often
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