Emotional Labor Training Typology for Basic Peace Officer Training Curricula

Abstract

Emotional and physical wellness are affected when individuals serve in public sector work that requires emotional labor. The costs of engaging in emotional labor contribute to a variety of negative psychological and physiological symptoms. These symptoms may also affect organizational effectiveness and contribute to low job satisfaction, low employee morale, burnout, fatigue, high turnover, and performance problems. Training may mitigate the effects of emotional labor; however, current law enforcement training curricula lack appropriate learning objectives needed to address the issues that arise from emotional labor. In this study, a nationwide sample evaluation of basic peace officer certification programs reveals that emotional resilience training is currently neglected in curricula. Learning objectives that instruct officers in surface acting and emotional resilience are categorized. This study operationalizes surface acting and emotional resilience learning objectives necessary for future research of emotional labor training curricula. Validated emotional resilience training in curricula is minimal, and evidence-based programs are needed. This article presents a framework for more thorough evaluation of law enforcement training curricula regarding emotional and physical wellness related to emotional labor.