Abstract
For the initial evaluation of Tennessee's Law Enforcement Candidate Assessment Program, groups of metropolitan and non-metropolitan candidates for police certification were studied and compared with respect to their scores on the MMPI, Kuder Preference Record-Vocational, Form CH, and Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test-Form J. The mean profiles for each group individually, as well as the profiles for the groups combined, were calculated. The results showed that the non-metropolitan applicants were older and had lower IQ scores than the metropolitan group. Both groups approached the MMPI in a “faking good” manner. These profiles, nevertheless, were relatively flat and hovered around the mean. In terms of interests both groups showed peaks in the social service area with the metropolitan sample scoring somewhat higher than the non-metropolitan group, who also showed a strong interest in outdoor activities. Their other interests appeared to be approximately equal. Although caution is suggested in interpreting the results, the data indicated that, if psychopathology is present in police officers, it will most commonly be manifest as a character disorder as described by the 4-9 or 4-3 MMPI profile code type.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.