Psychological Preparation
Although it is presumed that there is absolutely nothing you can do to alter your natural psychological makeup without assistance from a professional, the reality of things is just the opposite. Preparing for the mental aspects of a career in modern law enforcement is among the most important exercises that can be undertaken by an applicant. Those who would enforce the law need to develop a keen sense of what is right and wrong. They should employ true common sense and establish balance in dealing with others. Most important, they should be ready to accept all of the realities that are inherent in a law enforcement job. Understanding from the start that this is no ordinary career is vital.
Most law enforcement officers and agents accept that a risk to their lives exists in the career field. They understand that serious physical injury, total disability, and even death can be the result of performing the dangerous tasks that come with the job. What usually outweighs these risks are factors that are deemed more important by the officer, such as a sense of duty or a desire to experience action in the hopes of helping others. Understanding that the job can be highly risky from the beginning, dealing emotionally with that reality in advance of applying for the job, and accepting that an agent can be hurt, maimed, or even killed in the line of duty will help establish a foundation for dealing with the associated emotions once the career has begun.
Fact
Learning how to effectively defuse excess stress when the pressure is off is as important an ability as being able to handle stressful—even life-threatening—situations while on duty. Failure to cope with stress properly will result in unwanted and harmful conditions that can end a career prematurely.
As if the emotions associated with personal well-being were not enough, there are other psychological challenges that come with the job. For example, at any given time, a law enforcement official might be called on to take a human life. Taking a human life in the line of duty, whether as a police officer or a soldier, is neither easy nor pleasant. The impact that such an action has on the officer can be nothing less than traumatic, and the incident may become the defining moment in that person's life. The sooner you accept the possibility that you will be faced with this situation, the better prepared you will be for a career in law enforcement.
