EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL OF USE OF FORCE/CRITICAL INCIDENTS

ALEXIS ARTWOHL, PH.D.
www.alexisartwohl.com
alexisartwohl@msn.com
520-834-7468

Class Objectives

 

  1. Learn about the research on the psychology of combat and other extreme stress incidents.
  2. Learn about the psychological impact of use of force incidents on the community, the agency, and individual officers and how to minimize negative responses to these events.
  3. Learn about the psychological aftermath of critical incidents and use of force situations.
  4. Enhance the ability of officers, supervisors, and managers to help maximize emotional survival of officers and agencies based on detailed recommendations.
  5. Learn about the research on critical incident debriefings and what types of debriefings can help the emotional survival of the officers, family members, and the agency.

 

Class Description

(One Day Class)

During this one day class Dr. Artwohl will present a detailed analysis of the psychology of high threat and combat situations and the implications for physical, legal, and psychological survival. This class is oriented toward officers, family members, mental health professionals, and supervisors. However, anyone interested in the emotional survival of officer involved shootings and critical incidents will find the class relevant.

She will review survival research from the areas of psychology, sociology, law enforcement, investigations, and her experience talking with hundreds of officers involved in critical incidents and use of force situations. This will include her research on “Perceptual and Memory Distortions in Officer Involved Shootings” published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin in October 2002, and her article “No Recall of Weapons Discharge” published in the Law Enforcement Executive Forum in May, 2003.

Dr. Artwohl will discuss recommendations of how these incidents can best be handled by all concerned to help minimize the emotional impact on the community, officers, family members, and the agency, This will include including reviewing the IACP recommendations about how to help minimize psychological trauma to officers and family members in the aftermath of officer involved shootings.

She will review the research on critical incident debriefings and discuss the types of debriefings that may help officers, family members, and agencies emotionally survive the aftermath.

Class Outline


The Responsibility Triad Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The Survival Triangle IACP Administrative Guidelines for OIS
FBI Wound Ballistic Studies Suggestions for Supporting Fellow Officers after a Critical Incident
The Psychobiology of Fear Re-entry Program for Returning Officers to Duty
Research on Perceptual and Memory Distortions during OIS – Multiple Studies The Recovery Process
Epstein’s Research on Thinking Processes during High Stress Events Post-incident Debriefings – Research and Recommendations
The Aftermath of Critical Incidents – Multiple Studies  
   
   

 


Dr. Artwohl is co-author of DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS, written with Loren W. Christensen

 

   

Dr. Artwohl is co-author of DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS, written with Loren W. Christensen