Dr. Paulson, President of the Allegiance Research Group, says de-escalation skills can be enhanced and he has developed an inventory to identify areas of needed training. The goal of the DSI is to help police minimize personal risk and be aware of more options as they carry out their work.
PRLog - June 3, 2015 - WASHINGTON -- The De-Escalation Skills Inventory (DSI) is in beta testing and is available upon request. The inventory acknowledges the challenging roles in law enforcement, the negative perceptions coming from a small percent of law enforcement personnel, safety concerns, and the changing environment due to camera ubiquity. Open-ended research reveals the following areas are critical to developing de-escalation skills.
Communication – This includes the recognition that language is a tool that increases options and can reduce flamed emotions in others. Do they understand that using language as a skill can buy time and can be an ally when consistent with safety concerns? Do they know about pattern interrupts and re-frames? Also, are they aware that a person may not respond because they are deaf or may come from another country and not understand English?
De-Personalization – Self-image need not be affected by emotive challenges. This includes the reaction to challenges and insults. Are the police overly defensive? Can they feel empathy toward the people they serve? How does police work affect their self-image? Does the work provide meaning or does it add stress to their life?
Role Flexibility – Police play a variety of roles that can go from military-type authority to ombudsman to medic. Do they feel well-trained in all of these roles? There are multiple options for de-escalation yet the bottom line is that there is tension between taking control of a situation quickly and seeking ways to de-escalate. Do they feel they can talk to superiors freely? Is there any accountability system to protect them if they do talk freely? What is the culture of their department?
Proportionality – This involves the cultivation of discretionary behavior based upon the consideration of a hierarchy of values such as personal safety, safety of others, de-escalation, law enforcement and flexibility. Do they have the ability to see the big picture and their role in it as a police officer? Do they understand and use the appropriate level of force? Do they understand Constitutional rights? This is about consequential thinking and awareness of context.
Heroic Impulse – Many people in law enforcement are motivated by higher ideals and this can be called heroic impulse. The goal here is to reinforce an individual’s best instincts and the positive aspects of what the uniform should stand for.
The DSI recognizes that the police profession has traditionally depended on mentoring as well as formal training. The DSI consists of fifty questions, or ten questions for each skill (Communication, De-Personalization, Role Flexibility, Proportionality, and Heroic Impulse). There are three possible answers to each question and the respondent is asked to select the answer that most accurately reflects their views. Completed inventories are reviewed and a measurement is made for each of the five skill areas. Results are reported in the form of a bar graph and high scores indicate a need for training in that area.
It is critical for society to have faith in law enforcement, and training in de-escalation is a tool that moves us in the right direction. It is always interesting to quantify and measure human behavior and in this case a bar chart, like a picture, is worth more than a 1,000 words.
Dale Paulson, Ph.D. is the President of Allegiance Research Group and specializes in innovative research to understand human behavior. Founded in 1987, the company has done research for over 100 national associations as well as corporations and government. Dr. Paulson is also a speaker, writer of articles, and a guest on radio programs. He has published two books including Workplace Jerks! Will This Person be a Speed Bump, a Pothole or a Landmine? Media contact is Dale Paulson, 703-772-5263, dgp@AllegianceResearch.com, 3213 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
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De-Escalation Training is New Imperative for Police
June 03, 2015 at 08:00 AM EDT
