When this chapter has been completed, the student will be able to:

• understand the more commonly accepted definitions of stress
• understand the concept of the General Adaptation Syndrome as defined by Hans Selye
• identify how most people react under stress
• list the types of changes that take place in the body at the alarm stage
• list the characteristics of a Type A personality
• identify the four major categories of stressors in police work
• list the sources of stress identified in the study of the San Jose Police Department
• identify the ways alcohol abuse manifest themselves in police officers
• discuss the benefits of the alcohol abuse programs in the Denver Police Department
• know the types of problems police administrators must deal with regarding drug use by police officers
• list the three major principles that have emerged from many court decisions regarding random drug testing
• discuss the recognized medical uses of anabolic steroids
• list the three stages of psychological dependence regarding steroids
• describe the findings of the New York City Police Department study of officer beliefs regarding police suicides
• understand the most common factors related to police suicide
• describe the typical warning signs that an officer may be contemplating suicide
• list the signs supervisors should look for when interviewing an officer who may be suicidal
• identify the indicators of a potential of Suicide by Cop (SbC)
• discuss what Harry Schlossberg learned about police officer reaction to Suicide by Cop
• define a critical incident
• list the stress reactions experienced by critical incident participants
• describe the problems experienced by the first women in law enforcement that were not experienced by men
• discuss the findings of stress research done on male and female officers in two Florida law enforcement agencies
• list the steps that can be taken by police agencies to screen and select new officers to minimize the risk of hiring officers who may engage in domestic violence
• discuss why police departments must have zero tolerance policies with respect to domestic violence being committed by their officers
• describe the range of services that may be provided to officers who are involved or may become involved in domestic violence
• list examples of stress-inoculation strategies