64 3 Police and Law Enforcement—Civil FtKornfeld, 1995). A low scale 5 for a male indicates an extremely masculine presen-
tation, with stereotypical masculine interests, and someone who is action oriented
(Butcher, 1990; Graham, 1993; Kornfeld, 1995). A females with an elevated scale 5
could be a woman who has rejected the traditional feminine role, embracing more
commonly masculine interests. Overall, Kornfeld (1995) found that these police of-
ficer candidates were psychologically well adjusted, comfortable with people, free
of worry, and seif-confident.
The MM PI was not designed particularly for the selection of police officers
and some researchers have expressed concern over its use in this context (Cortina
et a!., 1992). In response to this concern, the Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI)
was developed (Cortina et al., 1992). The IPI is a 310-item questionnaire that
".. .attempts to assess the psychological and emotional fitness of recruits as well
as some of their job-relevant behavioral characteristics" (p. 20). In a validity study
conducted by Inwald, Knatz, and Shusman (1983), the IPI was found to be superior
to the MM PI in predicting job-relevant criteria such as absences, lateness, and
derelections (disciplinary interviews). However, according to Cortina et al. (1992),
neither the MM PI nor the IPI could add much over the Civil Service Exam, a
multiple-choice exam testing cognitive ability, in predicting performance ratings
and officer turnover rates.
Eber (as cited in Lorr & Strack, 1994) obtained objective psychometric data on
15,000 candidates for positions in law enforcement agencies around the country.
Using the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire, one of Eber's objectives was to deter-
mine a distinct police personality style that might explain the sporadic occurrence
of excessive force or assaultive behavior in typically rational, stable, and professional
officers. The Clinical Analysis Questionnaire consists of personality measure scales
and 12 measures of psychopathology. Overall, the candidates were found to have
very little psychopathology. They xvere less depressed, less confused, and less likely
to engage in self-harm than the general population. However, they were more thrill
seeking and had a disregard for social conventions based on these measures. Regard-
ing their personality styles, Eber found that these candidates were self-disciplined,
very tough-minded, and slightly independent.
Expanding on Eber's work, Lorr and Strack (1994) divideci the police personality
profile into three robust profile groups. The largest cluster was reflected as the
typical "good" cop or those who are self-disciplined, low in anxiety, extroverted,
and emotionally tough. One in four candidates fell into a cluster that had relatively
high levels of paranoia, schizophrenia, and psychasthenia as well as high anxiety and
lower self-control. Despite their relatively high occurrence compared to "good'
cops, these occurrences of psychopathology were relatively low compared with the
general population.
Other researchers maintain that adverse psychological changes occur in officers
after being on the job. A study conducted by Beutler et al. (1988) using the MMPI
looked at 25 officers directly after recruitment, 2 years later, and, finally, 4 years
later. These researchers found that the officers presented personality styles suggestive