The role of professional training in the formation of psychological attitudes among police officers

Shatskaya Ekaterina Aleksandrovna PhD in Sociology Associate Professor at the Department of General Legal Training at East Siberian Institite of the Ministry of Internal Affairs 644082, Russia, Irkutskaya oblast', g. Irkutsk, ul. Lermontova, 110 Katerina_shat@mail.ru Other publications by this author

In today's rapidly changing conditions, the issue of the effectiveness of the professional activities of police officers remains relevant. Public opinion is being studied, accounting documents are being prepared by the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, factors affecting the result of professional work are being investigated, complex approaches to the analysis of existing problems in the official activities of police officers are being proposed. In this regard, the directions related to the psychological analysis of professional performance are also being updated. Cumulative scientific observations cover the social side, psychological components, organizational conditions, technical equipment. Many factors have an impact on satisfaction with their professional work:  the level of remuneration for work, the prestige of the chosen profession, emotional satisfaction, etc. These factors form psychological aspects that affect the effectiveness of the professional activities of police officers. In addition, there are social expectations that imply an impartial approach to the implementation of tasks. However, the nature of the professional work of police officers puts them in difficult situations where their internal attitudes can influence decision-making. The very problem of psychological attitudes in the professional activities of police officers is among the urgent ones, since their influence on the course of the activities of employees is extremely huge, and the nature of such influence is far from unambiguous. Today there is an urgent need for a theoretical study of the types of psychological attitudes in law enforcement, their place in the psychological structure of a policeman's personality, as well as the development of methods for the formation of prosocial attitudes in the process of professional training.

In this article, the basic psychological attitudes are formulated, the formation of which is possible when conducting classes on the interdisciplinary course "Moral and psychological training" according to vocational training programs.

The methodological basis for the identification of attitudes can be the works of foreign researchers, which are the basis of social management. These are the theory of "human relations" (E. Mayo), the two-factor theory of motivations (F. Herzberg), the concept of long-term effectiveness (R. Laikert), etc. Among Russian researchers, A.A. Bogdanov is known for having formulated the "law of the smallest", by virtue of which the strength of the chain was determined by the weakest of its links ^[2].

Thus, the leading principles of the doctrine of "human relations" are the use of employees' abilities, satisfaction of their needs, self-organization ^[12].

According to the two-factor theory of motivations, satisfaction and dissatisfaction with work are influenced by different factors. In particular, motivating factors, which include achievement of success, recognition of merit, promotion, interest in the profession affect job satisfaction. But the factors of the atmosphere or hygiene: remuneration, stability, interpersonal relationships in the team, work safety, affect dissatisfaction and by themselves cannot motivate an employee to work ^[3].

The concept of long-term efficiency is of interest. Its essence lies in the relationship of three variables: causal (management style, organizational structure), intermediate (traditions in teams, behavior, goals, values of employees, their expectations) and resultant (work outcome, staff turnover, remuneration) ^[11]. In other words, the model of effective management is revealed as the effect of stimuli (causal variables) on resources (intermediate variables), creating an output result (resultant variables). In order to obtain qualitative perspective changes, it is necessary to influence the change of causal factors. 

Based on the "law of the least" in the modern interpretation, the effectiveness of activities can be assessed based on the contribution of the least trained employee who does not have sufficient experience in performing official duties. At the same time, it should be remembered that professional adaptation lasts approximately three years. It is during this period that employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities.

Based on the four theories under consideration, there is no doubt that the most important labor resource remains a specific person who has his own needs, interests and motives ^[9]. The analysis of personal resources influencing labor activity is also important ^[4]. Personal resources include: psychological resources of stability, self-regulation, motivational resources, instrumental resources. In addition, it is impossible not to take into account individual and personal potential: the ability to overcome stressful situations, the reaction to difficulties, the state of human health, life optimism, etc.

Let's focus on such a term as motive. It can be internal (the desire to do something) and external (when circumstances open a choice to a person). In other words, motives are what puts a person in front of the need to act in order to achieve a goal. The goal is, on the one hand, the image of the intended result, on the other hand, a conscious need. Achieving this goal involves reflection. Reflection is the analysis or introspection of each action.

Thus, interest in their official duties and involvement in the labor process are the most important incentives for the effective performance of professional tasks. And thanks to a personality-oriented approach to their professional activities, a police officer has the opportunity to achieve a high result.

In this regard, there is a need to determine the basic psychological attitudes that contribute to quality work. The very concept of "installation" is interpreted as readiness to perform unconscious stereotypical behavior (fixed installation according to D.N. Uznadze ^[7], operational and target installations according to A.G. Asmolov ^[1]). It seems to us that the installation should assume not only a predisposition to a certain activity, but also create preadaptation mechanisms, that is, the ability to act in conditions of uncertainty.

The formation of psychological attitudes (action programs, behavioral reactions, etc.) is a long process that requires rethinking, analysis, self–development, the ability to look at life circumstances from different positions.

In practical psychology, the principle of psychological attitude is used to correct thinking and behavior. We believe that when conducting classes on the interdisciplinary course "Moral and psychological training" with citizens who are first employed in the internal affairs bodies, the use of such practices is possible and necessary.

For a more accurate understanding of the content of the educational material, we will highlight the topics studied in this course:

- the moral foundations of service in the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- historical traditions of service in the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- principles and norms of professional ethics of an employee of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- rules of official communication and official etiquette of an employee of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- moral foundations of anti-corruption behavior of an employee of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- national-cultural and religious traditions of the peoples of Russia, principles of interethnic and interreligious peace;

- interaction of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation with representatives of the mass media;

- psychological characteristics of professional official activity of an employee of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- methods of psychological self-regulation of an employee of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- professional communication of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation;

- conditions for effective communication of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation with citizens;

- verbal and non-verbal means of communication in professional communication of an employee of the internal affairs bodies;

- methods and techniques of providing legitimate psychological impact on citizens;

- psychotechnics of cognition of personal characteristics of communication partners, psychological portraiture;

- conflicts in situations of professional communication of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation with citizens.

Let us denote some psychological attitudes traced in the works of G.I. Urazaeva, O.V. Vlasova, S.G. Kostin, T.A.Simonova, E.A. Shatskaya ^{[5, 6, 8, 10]}

- general-stereotypical, formulated about police officers and accepted by the officers themselves: "Law enforcement officers are bad, corrupt";

- behavioral-semantic, determining why, what and how a person does. Once there is a negative opinion about the employees, the question arises: "Why be good if you are still "bad"? And this is also a psychological attitude that finds its manifestation during training sessions with employees;

- stimulating to development or inhibiting, which are related to the need base and motivation. The well-known proverb "The soldier who does not dream of becoming a general is bad" reflects a person's aspirations for something. In the official activity of a police officer, this may be another special title, promotion, a desire to be the best in his field, to help people, etc.

We believe that in the process of professional training of police officers, it is necessary to focus on the formation of the following psychological attitudes:

1.        Getting out of the comfort zone is not the destruction of personality, but the search for new ways for its development. Staying in the comfort zone can lead to stagnation and lack of progress in life. For police officers, it is an opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills, overcome fears and insecurities, and unlock their potential.    

2.        There are no bad people, there are bad deeds and actions. The reasons for the commission of illegal actions cannot be reduced only to deliberate malicious intent. This attitude can develop a more compassionate and understanding attitude towards others, lead to more constructive and effective ways to solve problematic behavior.

3.        When serving, it is not the employee himself who is insulted as a formed personality, but the law enforcement system as a whole. It should be remembered that police officers are people who perform the tasks assigned to them, and no one has the right to insult them. However, in our opinion, the legal protection of employees from disrespectful attitude to them requires attention from the legislator. It is quite difficult to abstract from the negative attitude on the part of offenders, therefore, defenders of law and order react to such behavior, violating the norms of professional ethics and damaging their reputation.

4.        There is no place for violence and aggression in a relationship. The formation of this psychological attitude is crucial, as it contributes to the development of healthy and positive relationships between people. Violence and aggression in a relationship can lead to physical, emotional and mental harm, which can have long-term consequences for those involved.

5. Any emotions and feelings must be expressed and worked out. Emotions and feelings are a natural part of human experience and their suppression or containment can lead to negative consequences, such as anxiety, depression. By exploring the root causes of their emotions and feelings, employees can gain insight into their own needs, desires and values and can work on solving problems or conflicts.

6. You need to do your job conscientiously, no matter what condition you are in, otherwise do not take up work. Firstly, by emphasizing the importance of performing their job duties well, even when they feel tired or lack of motivation, employees are more likely to force themselves to work to the best of their abilities. Secondly, it helps to form a sense of responsibility and accountability among employees. Third, it helps to create a positive work culture. This, in turn, can boost morale and job satisfaction for all employees.

7.        Every person has advantages and disadvantages. This attitude encourages people to focus on the positive qualities of others, rather than being overly critical and judgmental. Promotes empathy and understanding towards others and helps employees to accept themselves and others more.

8.        It is important to maintain an internal balance (conscience), to monitor the harmony between thoughts and actions (emotions and reason).

This psychological attitude helps employees develop a strong sense of self-awareness and personal integrity. By paying attention to how their thoughts and actions coincide (or do not coincide), employees can better understand their own values and beliefs. This can help them make more informed decisions and avoid internal conflicts. In general, a psychological attitude to maintaining internal balance and tracking harmony between thoughts and actions is important for personal growth, emotional well-being and healthy relationships.

9.        In any unpleasant situation, you need to look for opportunities for growth.

Firstly, it helps to develop a more positive outlook on life. Instead of feeling stuck and helpless in difficult situations, an employee can view problems as an opportunity to learn and grow. Secondly, such an attitude can help increase resilience and develop problem-solving skills. By focusing on potential solutions rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of the situation, employees can find creative ways to overcome difficulties and achieve their goals. Thirdly, such an attitude can help in reducing stress and anxiety. When employees view failures as opportunities for growth, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed or defeated by difficult situations. They are more likely to approach problems with a sense of determination and optimism.

Thus, the effectiveness of the activities of police officers should be considered not only from the standpoint of the ratio of results and costs, but also from the standpoint of the realization of personal resources. The subjective-objective psychological components are focused on motive, goal, actions, result, reflection and attitudes.

Professional training is an essential component in the formation of psychological attitudes among police officers. Police officers have to cope with a number of situations that can be stressful, emotional and even dangerous. Therefore, it is important for them to have the right psychological attitudes for the effective and efficient performance of their official duties. The proposed psychological attitudes for police officers can help them develop empathy, respect, an open-minded attitude, emotional intelligence and communication skills that are necessary for successful police service.