SOCIAL SKILLS AND POLICE: AN INITIAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research reveals several implications for police training and practice and future research. With the popularity of community oriented policing, police organizations are examining the ways police relate to individuals and the community. Increasingly, police organizations will rely on the communications skills or social competence of police officers to advance the concept of community policing; strategies which represent a challenge to the traditional methods of policing. Police officers who participated in this study demonstrated relatively low levels of communication skills compared to norms. This suggests the need for improvement in this key area of police responsibility. To the extent that other police officers share the need to improve their understanding and use of verbal and nonverbal communications, effective social skill training and participation in interactions with people should improve communications behaviors and their ability to match behaviors to demands of a specific situation. Choice of communication techniques may then be related to the unique elements of the situation and to desired outcomes. Improved verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors may improve police officers’ social competencies in contingent situations as well as expand the range of options for resolving problems. Additional research is needed to confirm and expand on the findings of this study. The relationships identified with regard to perceived levels of social skills are worthy of further investigation in order to acquire better understanding of the dynamics and dimensions of social competence.