Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Term Paper Example The psychological damage resultant of uncontrollable, horrifying life events possesses a central focus of psychiatric interest within the discipline of psychology. Majority of the early psychiatrists conceived psychological trauma as the definitive source of psychopathology (Ehlers & Steil, 1995). Until recently, the consequences of certain traumas such those stemming from wars, rape, concentration camp experiences, child abuse, and civilian disasters were largely described as distinct entities; nevertheless, keen examination makes it apparent that the human response to overwhelming and uncontrollable life events is incredibly consistent, but the nature of the trauma, the victim’s age, predisposing personality, and community response all bear significant impact on the posttraumatic syndrome (Brewin & Holmes, 2003). The American Psychiatric Association clearly recognized this in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder, 3rd edition (DSM-III) when it launched a separate division for the human response to overwhelming life events delineated as â€Å"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder† (PTSD) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Majority of the sufferers of PTSDA continues living in emotional environments of the traumatic environment with tolerating vigilance for and sensitivity towards the environmental threat. The five principal features of the human response to trauma encompass: (1) an enduring startle response and irritability; (2) proclivity to volatile bursts of aggression; (3) obsession with the trauma; (4) limitation on the overall degree of personality functioning; and, (5) unusual dream life (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). In mild cases, the trauma is ultimately remedied by integration of traumatic events into the totality of the subject’s life experiences; nevertheless, in most cases, some or all the symptoms may endure during periods of later stress. The reactions can be grouped into three core

Critical Incident Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical Incident Management - Research Paper Example One of the methods that help justice and security organizations to be firm on its certification of public safety is scenario-based planning (Eppen, Martin, & Scharge, 1989). Scenario planning is â€Å"a comprehensive planning tool that some of the dedicated firms make use of to achieve their long-term goals† (Eppen, Martin, & Scharge, 1989). Scenario-based planning ensures the management of civil liberties in justice organization that they unintentionally compromise fulfilling other duties. It also makes sure that the organizations do not forget public safety while satisfying other demands. The role of scenario planning within these organizations is to minimize or control these risks (Tibettes, 1998). Many security and justice organizations have policies that make them implement on the actual rules and regulation of these companies. To understand this clearly, example of use of force is appropriate. The policies regarding use of force describe an increasing sequence of actions that an officer can take to handle a situation (Tibettes, 1998). This sequence usually has many levels of intensities, and there is a strict instruction for officers to use an appropriate level of intensity of force, keeping in mind the present situation. This also allows an officer to shift from one level of sequence to another without much difficulty. In law enforcement, there is a huge carefulness which makes it very important; police discretion refers to the autonomy of a justice agency or individual officer working in that or any other justice agency to choose to involve in a certain situation to handle it or not (Tibettes, 1998). The implementation of scale of discretion by an office is when an officer arrests a person for a DUI (Driving under the influence); there is a low discretion in this incident in the name of public safety. High discretion is observed when as officer issues a citation on a driver failing to signal a lane change. In particular, the â€Å"amount of effo rt required by police to compel compliance from an unwilling subject is legal definition of use of force† (Tibettes, 1998). Officers should not use any force if they find no conflicts, fights or battles, in other words, no force if there is no resistance. As an example, the sequence of intensities of force starts from officer using verbalization for controlling a situation; if situation does not come under control, he can go for Empty Hand Control. Even when the situation gets worse, an officer can go for Soft Hand Technique, then gradually Less Lethal Method (Surette, 2010). If the situation cannot be controlled with any of the above methods, officers can have an impact on it with the use of weapon, then chemical spray, and then finally the use of lethal force. There are many debates regarding the use of force continuum. These are regarding the convenience of techniques or tools under this continuum. Should the law include this method in the policies and would they might incr ease the liability? Use of force is not appropriate for every situation because not every situation can convert into a continuum (Tibettes, 1998). The law enforcement and other criminal and justice agencies need to structure their organization in a way that everyone can openly share their ideas and opinions; there is no fear of saying anything even if it is wrong. Most importantly, veterans should give