Week 5: Psychology and Community Interaction I

Think about individual words and the many interpretations each can have, let alone when words are strung together in sentences and paragraphs. Sometimes it is a wonder that people understand one another as well as they do and as often as they do. How is it, given that even when people speak the same language and there is diversity in perspectives, ideas, styles of interacting, concerns, and goals, that they understand each other at all? Of course, this can be exacerbated when people are culturally different from one another. This week, you examine some of the diverse populations that police must understand in order to resolve problems and provide appropriate services. You also consider how forensic psychology professionals can help police professionals understand and serve diverse populations as well as communicate with them effectively. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this week, you should be able to:

• Analyze and evaluate issues related to interacting with diverse populations
• Analyze the impact of forensic psychology professionals on the police professional’s ability to work with diverse populations
• Analyze issues related to communicating with diverse populations
• Analyze the impact of forensic psychology professionals on the communication effectiveness of police professionals with diverse populations

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Rostow, C. D., & Davis, R. D. (2004). Law enforcement liability and police psychology. In C. D. Rostow & R. D. Davis (Eds.), Handbook for psychological fitness-for-duty evaluations in law enforcement (pp. 43–54). Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

Dixon, T. L., Schell, T. L., Giles, H., & Drogos, K. L. (2008). The influence of race in police-civilian interactions: A content analysis of videotaped interactions taken during Cincinnati police traffic stops. Journal of Communication, 58(3), 530–549.

Dottolo, A., & Stewart, A. (2008). “Don’t ever forget now, you’re a black man in America”: Intersections of race, class and gender in encounters with the police. Sex Roles, 59(5/6), 350–364.

Hawley, K. S., Garrity, A. W., & Cherry, K. E. (2005). Knowledge of normal versus pathological memory aging among police officers. Educational Gerontology, 31(1), 1–17.   

Larsson, A. S., & Lamb, M. E. (2009). Making the most of information-gathering interviews with children. Infant and Child Development, 18(1), 1–16.

Walsh, E., & Eggert, L. L. (2008). Preventing youth suicide: Issues for law enforcement personnel. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 31(4), 347–358.

Watson, A. C., Schaefer Morabito, M., Draine, J., & Ottati, V. (2008). Improving police response to persons with mental illness: A multi-level conceptualization of CIT. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 31(4), 359–368.

Optional Resources

Lee, J., & Rytina, N. (2009). Naturalizations in the United States: 2008. DHS Office of Immigration Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publ…

Heilman, U. (2003, June 6). Policing the hasidim. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved from http://www.urielheilman.com/boropark.html

Discussion: Forensic Psychology Professionals and Community Diversity Training

The term “diversity” typically refers to differences among populations. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, race and ethnicity. According to the United States Immigration Statistics (Lee & Rytine, 2009), 1,046,539 people were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 2008. The leading groups of foreign-born citizens came from Mexico, India, and the Philippines, pointing to the diversity of race and ethnicity in the United States. In addition to being different in terms of race and ethnicity, these groups also are different in terms of religious and cultural traditions, language, and lifestyle. Awareness of diversity is important for anyone working with diverse populations as some actions and words, due to the recipient’s traditions and culture, may be seen as rude and insulting. For example, in Chinese culture, prolonged eye contact is a symbol of disrespect, while eye contact in European culture can be a symbol of respect and attention. Also, the average Westerner stands about two feet from others when engaged in conversation. This distance may shrink in Hispanic cultures and, conversely, increase in Nordic cultures. To make matters even more complicated, diversity is not limited to race, ethnicity, and their related traditions, languages, and lifestyles. Diversity can refer to other characteristics, such as religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, physical ability, and age. People can belong to the same race or ethnic group, and still be a member of one or more diverse populations. Police professionals must be aware of diversity and the nature of the groups and sub groups with which they may work. The forensic psychology professional can assist police professionals in these areas by helping them gain a better understanding of diversity, as well as establish methods of working with diverse groups. The result should be improved relationships between police professionals and their communities.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the book excerpt, “Law Enforcement Liability and Police Psychology.” Pay attention to diversity issues that present challenges to police professionals and consider why they do.
• Review the articles, “The Influence of Race in Police-Civilian Interactions: A Content Analysis of Videotaped Interactions Taken During Cincinnati Police Traffic Stops” and “”Don’t Ever Forget Now, You’re a Black Man in America”: Intersections of Race, Class and Gender in Encounters With the Police.” Think about issues related to race, class, gender, communication, and the understanding of diverse populations. Focus on why these issues could present challenges to police professionals.
• Review the article, “Knowledge of Normal Versus Pathological Memory Aging Among Police Officers.” Think about the challenging issues that aging populations could present to police professionals.
• Review the articles, “Making the Most of Information-Gathering Interviews With Children” and “Preventing Youth Suicide: Issues for Law Enforcement Personnel.” Consider the issues related to working with children and youth that present challenges to police professionals.
• Review the article, “Improving Police Response to Persons With Mental Illness: A Multi-Level Conceptualization of CIT.” Consider the challenging issues related to interacting with mentally ill people that police professionals could encounter. Think about why these issues are challenging, and consider how forensic psychology professionals could help police professionals address these challenges.
• Select two issues related to working with diverse populations that are challenging for police professionals.
• Consider how forensic psychology professionals could impact how police professionals interact and work with diverse populations.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief description of two challenging issues that police professionals could encounter when working with diverse populations. Then, analyze why each issue is challenging, and evaluate the impact that forensic psychology professionals could have on the police professional’s ability to work with diverse populations. Be specific and provide examples to illustrate your position. Support your analysis with references to the Learning Resources.

Task: Communicating With Diverse Populations

In order to work with diverse populations, police professionals must be aware of areas of concern that are specific to the populations they serve. Police professionals also must consider and adopt an appropriate style of interaction for each population. Those who do acquire the necessary skills specific to working with a particular population may find themselves more sensitive to the needs of the population, which may, as a result, improve community relationships. Forensic psychology professionals are instrumental in teaching these interactional skills to police professionals.

An examination of Boro Park, a small community in Brooklyn, New York, illustrates this point (Heilman, 2003). A small group of Hasidic Jews lives in this community. On Saturdays, the Hasidim do not work or drive their cars. Men are not allowed to be touched in any way by women who are not their wives, and all members eat only specially prepared foods. There are other religious laws that the Hasidim adhere to as well. If the police do not respect these values, there can be unrest and law enforcement difficulties. As a result, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has sanctioned a specific group, composed of members of this Jewish community, to handle emergencies in Boro Park. This special group responds to emergency calls and assists the NYPD in addressing certain investigations. Because of police professionals’ understanding and working with this particular group, the relationship between law enforcement and the community is a good one, members of the community cooperate with police professionals, and law enforcement problems have been reduced.

The Task (1–2 pages):

• Describe the diverse population you selected for this task
• Analyze the challenges police professionals experience when communicating with your selected population, and explain how a forensic psychology professional would assist police professionals with these challenges.
• Evaluate the potential impact of forensic psychology professionals on the effectiveness of police