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Optimal Psychophysiological States During Police Tactical Driving: a Multiple Case Study Analysis

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Abstract

The current study represents an exploratory application of Kamata et al. (J Sport Exerc Psychol 24:189–208, 2002) probabilistic methodology for ascertaining the optimal psychophysiological performance state of officers during police tactical driving. An optimal psychophysiological state represents the level of psychophysiological affect associated with the highest probability of performing successfully. Specifically, the psychophysiological profiles of three officers associated with optimal and non-optimal performance during police training was determined. Participants included two cadets and one veteran officer aged 23, 24, and 47, respectively. Introspective (e.g., self-report) and objective (e.g., heart rate) data were collected during tactical driving exercises and three simulated high-risk scenarios in which the participants had to pursue perpetrator vehicles and make appropriate arrests and use-of-force decisions. Results indicated that (a) officers possessed idiosyncratic differences in optimal psychophysiological states characterized by variations in optimal and non-optimal performance zones and probabilities for success, (b) cadets fluctuated between optimal and non-optimal performance states during high-risk training scenarios, and (c) self-awareness of arousal levels varied across participants. Results are discussed regarding the implementation of this methodology for mental resiliency training within law enforcement, particularly with the need to promote self-awareness and self-regulation strategies.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This project was funded by The University of Texas at San Antonio, Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    William M. Land

  2. Department of Education, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL, USA

    William A. Edmonds

  3. San Antonio Police Department, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Joel Pope

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  1. William M. Land
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  2. William A. Edmonds
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Correspondence to William M. Land.

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The current study had full ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board of the senior author. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Land, W.M., Edmonds, W.A. & Pope, J. Optimal Psychophysiological States During Police Tactical Driving: a Multiple Case Study Analysis. J Police Crim Psych 39, 157–169 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09629-8

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