Psychological Profile, Emotion Regulation, and Aggression in Police Applicants: A Swiss Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Although police officers are recurrently exposed to traumatic situations during their duties, only a minority report notable emotional complaints. This can be explained either by strong coping skills or repressive self-presentation style. The current study describes the profile and personality dispositions of candidates (i.e., prior exposure occupational trauma) explores possible association between these personal characteristics predisposition aggression. In cross-section design, 149 Swiss applicants were compared 110 individuals community matched age, gender level education. Validated scales used obtain self-report markers emotions attitudes (anxiety, happiness/depression, aggressive attitudes) (sensitivity reinforcement, impulsivity, social desirability). Compared civilian individuals, self-reported being happier, less anxious, aggressive, impulsive. They declared sensitive whether punishment reward, but showed higher degree desirability. Their tendencies influenced anxiety, urgency, sensitivity reward. findings will discussed within framework diathesis-stress model emotion regulation. It suggests that style described in may protective factor against negative overwhelming short term, risk for imbalance long particularly if recurrent adverse events.