This is the first of our series on Human Performance. Each month, we will be posting a topic related to the human factor in law enforcement, the man behind the machine. Today’s topic highlights the effects of training on physiological stress reactions during lethal force scenarios: The management of physiological stress plays a large role in the ability for Police Officers to safely perform their duties. This becomes more apparent during split-second life or death situations in which deficits in performance can have tragic consequences. A study conducted in 2022 found that among 122 active-duty police officers, elevated stress reactions were key predictors for substandard performance and increased lethal force errors. The largest predictor of improved performance was the officer’s level of training, while years of service showed a decrease in performance. The authors of this study opine that this result may be due to experienced patrol officers maintaining minimum qualifications and sustainment training without seeking out advanced training or practice. While it is well known that experience does provide the ability to perceive subtle irregularities a novice might miss, if it is not coupled with adequate training, the stress reactions during these events may lead to a decoupling of the affordances granted by experience. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gwniExN4
We are lagging behind when it comes to providing “context specific” training in the LE realm. While checking the box with “closed drill” training, we omit the perception/action coupling and decision making necessary to drive the physiological stress that results in this process. Closed or “boxed” drill training is devoid of stimulus which creates the opportunity for the officer to perceive to act and act to perceive, focusing on externally driven tasks with emergent decision making! What say you, Tracy Ertle
Good Post ??
Founding Partner & Co-Owner of Force Science
2 周Force Science in a study published in the journal Motor Behavior in 2023 entitled gaze control and tactical decision-making under stress in active duty police officers during a live use of force response - found an average pulse of 165 beats a minute and fantastic performance at that level of pulse based on whether or not the officers were trained or had any training at all to deal with the situation they were facing. High pulse levels can reflect high levels of arousal but just as in any competition high levels of arousal are not only correlated with high performance but can be necessary for high levels of performance. They can also be related to cognitive and behavioral collapse if the officer feels severely threatened versus challenged by the situation