module 8

Question 1

potentially traumatic events

Answer 1

• any incident that involves the threat of sexual violence, serious harm, or death
• the threat can be direct or indirect
• inevitable in policing
• impact is individual and related to interpretations of the event

Question 2

direct potentially traumatic event

Answer 2

• personally experiencing a PTE
• witnessing a PTE as it occurs to others

Question 3

indirect potentially traumatic event

Answer 3

• being exposed to a PTE through a source other than directly experiencing or witnessing it
• e.g. being told about an event, reading about or seeing images about an event

Question 4

perceptions of most to least traumatic PTEs

Answer 4

1. first on scene
2. responding to the scene but not first
3. managing a scene
4. repeated exposure over time, no “anchor event”
5. indirect exposure
6. unsupported and old trauma

Question 5

anchor event

Answer 5

anchor events would have strong emotional or psychological impact and often serves as a reference point for future reactions and thoughts

Question 6

PTSD criteria A

Answer 6

• “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:
  
  1. directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
  2. witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
  3. learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
  4. experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g. first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly expose to details of child abuse).”​​

Question 7

direct trauma exposure

Answer 7

• officer-involved shooting
• life-threatening incident
• witnessing death (violent or accidental)
• serious assault
• explosion or fire
• line of duty death

Question 8

indirect trauma exposure

Answer 8

• deceased people (violent or accidental)
• harm to children
• witnessing human suffering
• details at a scene
• explosion or fire
• line of duty death

Question 9

top 5 dangerous officer calls where police homicide is most likely to occur

Answer 9

1. investigating a robbery
2. domestic dispute
3. investigating firearms complaint
4. stopping suspicious person or vehicle
5. traffic violation

Question 10

line of duty deaths

Answer 10

• not common in Canada, however there is ways the potential regardless of the type of call

Question 11

potential impact of PTEs

Answer 11

• not wanting to respond to calls
• accumulation of trauma and stress over time
• maladaptive coping mechanisms (e.g. substances)
• respond differently (e.g. become more reactive or have increased hesitation)
• interpretation of threats as more or less severe
• general decline in mental health

Question 12

impact of trauma

Answer 12

1. negative cognitions
2. avoidance
3. approach

Question 13

negative cognitions

Answer 13

• shifts in beliefs/thoughts about themselves, others, and the world that are often distorted
• consistent with criterion D of PTSD diagnostic criteria

Question 14

negative cognition: danger/risk

Answer 14

• elevated perceptions of risk (e.g. interpretations of threats)
• danger-focused thoughts (e.g. where are the escape routes? What is someone’s real intention?)
• related uncontrollable physiologic response (e.g. fight or flight symptoms)
• catastrophizing

Question 15

negative cognition: control

Answer 15

• excessive sense of personal responsibility for events
• self-scrutiny and self-blame over negative outcomes
• fails to account for the complexity and competing factors of an event (focused on their role not the external contributions and situation as a whole)
• some have a sense of helplessness or lack of control (less common)

Question 16

negative cognition: humanity

Answer 16

• change in assumptive beliefs about the fundamental goodness of people
• cynicism about humanity (causes increased positive views on use of force)
• meaningful changes in thoughts about others’ motivations and intentions (e.g. perceive manipulation, harmful or self-serving intentions more often)

Question 17

avoidance

Answer 17

• consistent with criterion C of the PTSD diagnostic criteria: persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred
• e.g. avoiding where the event occurred, similar types of calls, talking about it, etc

Question 18

avoidance: engagement withdrawal

Answer 18

• avoid dangerous or distressing events
• limit/avoid discretionary activities involving public contact
• withdraw from proactive policing activities (creates opportunity for something to happen again)

Question 19

avoidance: emotional distancing

Answer 19

• psychologically distancing from the work
• psychologically distancing from the people they interact with on the job
• psychological and emotional distancing can be perceived as callousness by others
• can lead to dehumanization of groups of people (e.g. high risk lifestyles vs. children)
  - dehumanization can protect officers from psychological impact and maintain their belief in a ‘just world’

Question 20

approach: defensive

Answer 20

• engage with the public with the assumption of negative intention , which is related to the negative cognitions regarding safety/risk
• can lead to tenser, more aggressive interactions that escalate the situation

Question 21

approach: rigid enforcement

Answer 21

• related to belief that more rigid enforcement (perception of control) could prevent further negative outcomes
• creates meaning and purpose in their work amid senselessness death and violence (perceive decreased risk from rigid enforcement)
• negatively related to acceptable use of officer discretion

Question 22

PTSD criteria

Answer 22

1. intrusions
2. avoidance of stimuli
3. negative alterations in conditions and mood
4. alterations in arousal and reactivity

Question 23

intrusions as a PTSD criteria

Answer 23

unwanted thoughts, memories, or feelings associated with a traumatic event

Question 24

avoidance of stimuli as a PSTD criteria

Answer 24

avoiding thoughts, feelings, and even external reminders like people, places, or objects that evoke distress

Question 25

negative alterations in cognition and mood as a PSTD criteria

Answer 25

persistent negative thoughts about oneself, others, or the world, difficulty remembering aspects of the traumatic event, and a reduced ability to experience positive emotions

Question 26

alterations in arousal and reactivity as a PTSD criteria

Answer 26

increased sensitivity to stimuli, heightened reactivity to situations, and difficulties regulating emotional and physical responses

Question 27

post-traumatic growth

Answer 27

positive psychological changes experienced as a result of dealing with traumatic or highly challenging situations

Question 28

5 dimensions of post-traumatic growth

Answer 28

1. personal strength (increases resilience and self-reliance) 2. new possibilities (new + perspectives) 3. improved relationships (+ sense of belonging, love, connection and empathy) 4. spiritual growth (meaningful, existential beliefs about life and purpose) 5. appreciation for life (gratitude, clear priorities and goals)