Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Post-traumatic Growth in Policing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Trauma and Resilience in Contemporary Australian Policing

  • 322 Accesses

Abstract

Post-traumatic growth in policing: How officers grow in many important ways through a long career. This is a far more positive and optimistic approach to mental health and policing framed by post-traumatic growth theory and confirmed by the officers’ interviews, the majority of whom had enjoyed their careers and who would “do it all again in a heartbeat”. This chapter has a clear focus on the benefits that flow from a career in policing, the significant increases in self-awareness and the long term satisfaction that comes from such service. The qualitative interviews allowed officers to express positive perspectives on “the job” and its significance to the society they serve. Clear linkages are made here with the theory of post-traumatic growth and how participants described its importance to their professional and personal growth. At the end of each interview, I asked participants, “on a scale of 1–10, 1 being, I have just wasted my life working in a dysfunctional organization, with little achieved and few positive outcomes and 10 being I loved every minute of my career and would do it all again” most answered above 7 or 8.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See Chap. 9 “PTSD and policing”.

  2. 2.

    See also Seligman (20122).

References

  • Bannink, F. (2014). Post traumatic success: Positive psychology & solution-focused strategies to help clients survive & thrive. WW Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bistoen, G. (2016). Trauma, ethics and the political beyond PTSD: The dislocations of the real, Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewin, C. (2003). Posttraumatic stress disorder: Malady or myth? Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, K. J., & Shakespeare-Finch, J. (2011). Markers of resilience in new police officers: Appraisal of potentially traumatizing events. Traumatology, 17(4), 52–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, C. M., et al. (2008). The emotional impact on and coping strategies employed by police teams investigating internet child exploitation. Traumatology, 14(2), 20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (2014). Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun, L. G., et al. (1999). Facilitating posttraumatic growth: A clinician’s guide. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, G. (1964). Principles of preventive psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chopko, B. A., & Schwartz, R. C. (2013). The relation between mindfulness and posttraumatic stress symptoms among police officers. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 18(1), 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotton, P. (2016). Victoria Police Mental Health Review. An independent review into the mental health and well-being of Victoria Police employees. Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elntib, S., & Armstrong, T. (2014). Critical incidents’ impact on front-line South African police personnel in light of the current briefing and debriefing strategies. South African Journal of Psychology, 44(4), 416–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endersby, J. (2004). Monsters in the dark. Trafford Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flannery, R. B. (2015). Treating psychological trauma in first responders: A multi-modal paradigm. Psychiatric Quarterly, 86(2), 261–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1968). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. Washington Squarer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilmartin, K. M. (2002). Emotional survival for law enforcement. ES Press, PMB, 233, 2968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, V. E. (2004). Death work: Police, trauma, and the psychology of survival. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinton, D. E., & Good, B. J. (2015). Culture and PTSD: Trauma in global and historical perspective. University of Pennsylvania Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, P. (2011). Jack Knife: The crashing of a policeman- NSW police and PTSD. Australia, Zeus Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huddleston, L. M., et al. (2006). Conceptualizing traumatic stress in police officers: Preemployment, critical incident, and organizational influences. Traumatology, 12(3), 170–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janoff-Bulman, R. (1989). Assumptive worlds and the stress of traumatic events: Applications of the schema construct. Social Cognition, 7(2), 113–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E., & Wessely, S. (2005). Shell shock to PTSD: Military psychiatry from 1900 to the Gulf War. Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, S. (2012). What doesn't kill us: A guide to overcoming adversity and moving forward. Hachette UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kates, A. (2008). Copshock: Surviving Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Holbrook Street Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin, A. (2012). In the line of Duty. Ombudsman's report. Ontario, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. C. (2011). Many paths, one purpose. Expert forum. Australian Centre for posttraumatic mental health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mckay, E. (2005). Crime Scene-True stories from the life of a crime scene investigator. Viking (Penguin) Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, H. (2016). Flourishing and posttraumatic growth. An empirical take on ancient wisdoms. Health Care Analysis, 24(2), 133–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, D. J. (2015). The evil hours: A biography of post-traumatic stress disorder. Health Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, I. (1999). Officers under stress: A special report for Parliament under section 31 of the Ombudsman's Act. New South Wales, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neil, B. (2014). Under siege. Australia: Harlequin Mira.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neocleous, M. (2012). “Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared” Trauma-anxiety-resilience. Alternatives, 37(3), 188–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padhy, M., et al. (2015). Optimism and psychological well-being of police officers with different work experiences. SAGE Open, 5(2), 2158244015580852.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, B., & Smith, J. (2008). Breaking the silence: The traumatic circle of policing. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 10(3), 267–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivard, J. M., et al. (2002). Acute dissociative responses in law enforcement officers involved in critical shooting incidents: The clinical and forensic implications. Journal of Forensic Science, 47(5), 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, L. K. (1999). PostTraumatic Stress Disorder: A police officer’s report. Proctor Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, A., & Regehr, C. (2010). Whatever gets you through today: An examination of cynical humor among emergency service professionals. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 15(5), 448–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiraldi, G. R. (2011). The complete guide to resilience: Why it matters how to build it and maintain it. Resilience Training International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Lurie-Beck, J. (2014). A meta-analytic clarification of the relationship between posttraumatic growth and symptoms of posttraumatic distress disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(2), 223–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shakespeare-Finch, J. E., et al. (2014). Promoting posttraumatic growth in police recruits: preliminary results of a randomised controlled resilience intervention trial. In 2014 Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference: Book of Proceedings-Peer Reviewed. Association for Sustainability in Business Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparkes, A. (2013). The cost of bravery. Penguin Group, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1995). Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering. Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9(3), 455–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1998). Posttraumatic growth: Positive changes in the aftermath of crisis. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2006). Expert companions: Posttraumatic growth in clinical practice. In Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice (pp. 291–310).

    Google Scholar 

  • Violanti, J. M. (2006). The police: Perspectives on trauma and resiliency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Violanti, J. M. (2014). Dying for the job: Police work exposure and health. Charles C Thomas Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Violanti, J. M., & Paton, D. (2006). Who gets PTSD?: Issues of posttraumatic stress vulnerability. Charles C Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wastell, C. (2005). Understanding trauma and emotion: Dealing with trauma using an emotion-focused approach.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehr, T. E. M., Priority One, staff support services, Queensland Ambulance Service. (2017). Priority One. Queensland, Australia, Australian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodberry, J. M. (1987). An examination of stress in the police force. South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, A. (1997). The harmony of illusions: Inventing post-traumatic stress disorder. Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chandlers Hill, SA, Australia

    Andrew Paterson

Authors
  1. Andrew Paterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Paterson, A. (2021). Post-traumatic Growth in Policing. In: Trauma and Resilience in Contemporary Australian Policing. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4416-0_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4416-0_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-4415-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-4416-0

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation