This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the authenticity experiences of South African women in law enforcement from a best-self perspective. Narrative interviews were conducted with 12 women from police and traffic services, aged between 26 and 55 (25% black, 58% mixed race and 17% white). Using thematic analysis, three themes were generated, namely, developing self-awareness, growing self-determination, and practising self-appraisal. By developing their self-awareness, they engaged in a self-reflective recognition of negative stress responses and realised alternative responses. Growing self-determination denotes consciously and actively applying best-self enhancing strategies to realign with the best-self. The women said to consistently apply self-appraisal to assess and confirm congruence with the best-self. The findings suggest three self-processing elements that are key to authenticity development. Opportunities to engage in authenticity development interventions aimed at empowering women should focus on sense of realignment with the best-self.

这项解释学现象学研究从最佳自我的角度探讨了南非女性在执法中的真实经历。对 12 名来自警察和交通部门的女性进行了叙述性采访，她们的年龄在 26 至 55 岁之间（25% 是黑人，58% 是混血儿，17% 是白人）。通过主题分析，产生了三个主题，即发展自我意识、增强自决力和实践自我评价。通过发展自我意识，他们对消极压力反应进行自我反思并认识到替代反应。增强自我决定力意味着有意识地、积极地应用最佳自我增强策略来重新调整最佳自我。这些女性表示要始终如一地进行自我评价，以评估并确认与最佳自我的一致性。研究结果表明，三个自我处理要素对于真实性发展至关重要。参与旨在增强妇女权能的真实性发展干预措施的机会应侧重于与最佳自我的重新调整。