A Comparison of the Value Structure of British and U.S. Police

• Published in: International journal of social psychiatry 1980, Vol.26 (4), p.246-254
• Main Authors: Teahan, John E., Adams, Kenneth M., Podany, Edward C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Britain/British (see also England, Great Britain); England; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Police/Policing/Policemen; Psychology; Social Control, Formal; Social Values; Structure/Structures/ Structuring/ Structured; Time Factors; United States; United States/US; Urban Population; Value/Values/Valuation/ Valuations
• ISSN: 0020-7640; 1741-2854
• DOI: 10.1177/002076408002600402

To examine the value structure of British constables with varying degrees of police experience, & to determine the effects of police work on that structure, 158 M constables from various parts of GB, with service periods of 3 months to 10 years, were administered the Rokeach Scale of Values (Rokeach, M., The Nature of Human Values, New York: Free Press, 1973). Analyses of variance were performed to determine the effect of length of service, & to compare this British sample with a sample of US policemen (N = 98 white Ms) from a large industrial city, administered the same test on entrance to the police academy, & again after 18 months, as part of an earlier study (see SA 24:4/76I0701). As hypothesized, length of service was found to have much less effect on the values of British constables than on those of US policemen. The higher crime rate in the US caused officers' values to shift over the 18-month period to attitudes reflecting greater emotional detachment, less forgiveness of others, & greater concern with achieving a sense of inner harmony. 4 Tables. Modified AA.