62 Questions
What percentage of waking time do humans spend on linguistic communication?
70%
What is one barrier to communication faced by law enforcement officers?
Fear of authority
What percentage of waking time do law enforcement officers spend on linguistic communication?
90%
Why do some cultures teach women and children not to talk to law enforcement?
Due to perceived masculinity threat
What is essential for law enforcement officers to communicate effectively with the public?
To be able to communicate with different educational levels
What is a principle of overcoming barriers to communication?
Recognize and admit that barriers do exist
Why is it essential to learn common words and phrases of an ethnic group?
To know what the members of the ethnic group are saying
What is the main impact of having a limited vocabulary?
It can limit the ability to communicate with people of higher educational backgrounds
Why is it necessary to be respectful of a person's social background?
To build a rapport with the person
What is the impact of the media on the community's perception of law enforcement?
It can negatively impact the community's perception of law enforcement's professionalism
What is essential for law enforcement to deliver a professional response?
Remaining objective and putting aside prejudices
What is necessary to overcome communication barriers?
Understanding and addressing the barriers
What is the most effective way to resolve communication breakdowns?
Assuming major responsibility for the breakdown
What is the key to becoming a more effective communicator?
Practicing basic principles of human concern and compassion
What is the primary category of barriers to communication that can be caused by physical illness or mechanical failures?
Physical barriers
Why is it essential to be aware of one's own prejudices?
To be more objective in decision-making
What is the impact of a law enforcement agency's reputation on communication?
It can negatively impact the community's perception of the agency
What is the result of failing to perceive someone's role or feelings in communication?
Less successful communication
How many 'persons' do we consider ourselves to be in a communication situation?
Four
What is necessary for effective communication?
Recognizing and addressing communication barriers
What type of barrier to communication is closely related to perceptual barriers?
Psychological/attitudinal barriers
What is the primary source of misunderstanding and failure to communicate in groups?
Status gaps
What is the benefit of relating as individuals without rank in daily communication?
Heightening of respect
What is the primary reason for the negative reaction to the term 'pig' in the 1960s?
Psychological influences
What is the ultimate goal of overcoming barriers to communication?
Achieving effective communication
What is the key to overcoming physical barriers to communication?
Correctly identifying the problem
What is an attitudinal barrier?
A failure to accept what contradicts what we already 'know'
What is a major obstacle to effective communication that people often create unconsciously?
Failing to analyze the problem
What is the 'halo effect'?
A bias against people we perceive negatively
What is a significant aspect of nonverbal communication?
Body language and facial expressions
What can be a job-related barrier to communication in law enforcement?
A failure to understand the police culture
What is the estimated percentage of social messages transmitted nonverbally?
65%
Why do law enforcement officers often develop a negative attitude?
Because they are seen as restricting movement and making arrests
What can interdepartmental or intradepartmental frictions often cause?
Hindered communication
What is the importance of choosing the right words in communication?
It helps in avoiding miscommunication
What is a common problem in communication among law enforcement officers?
Using overly technical language
What must we do to overcome intercultural and interracial barriers?
Develop an understanding of what they are
What is necessary to overcome communication barriers?
Recognition and acceptance of the barriers
What is the role of effective listening in communication?
It involves not talking at all
Why do law enforcement officers often fail to listen effectively?
They are too busy
What is a key to overcoming barriers to communication?
Practicing acceptance and understanding
What is the importance of understanding the perspective of the other person?
It helps in avoiding miscommunication
Why are we often afraid to listen to what others think or believe about a problem?
Because it may cause us to reorient our existing values and actions
What is the result of using the wrong words in communication?
It can lead to miscommunication
What is essential to overcome communication barriers?
Taking positive action
What is the significance of Winston Churchill's words?
They mobilized a nation and awakened the world to the Nazi peril
What is the estimated percentage of officers or trainees who will never have to take a specialized course in listening or attention?
Less than 10%
What is the primary method of learning for humans?
Through the eyes and ears
What is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the text?
Suicide
What percentage of people who succeed at suicide have attempted it previously?
At least 50%
What is a common sign of a potential suicide victim?
A sudden increase in mood after a long period of depression
What should be done when someone appears suicidal or is threatening suicide?
Contact a physician
What is a common feeling that accompanies thoughts of suicide?
Depression
What is the primary challenge of police work, according to the text?
Effective intervention in personal crises
Why are some suicides classified as accidental deaths?
To avoid stigma
What is the ranking of suicide as a cause of death among adolescents in the 15-19-year-old range?
Fifth leading cause
What is the primary goal of a police officer when encountering an individual bent on self-destruction?
To locate services available in the community for referral
Where can a police officer find resources to help individuals with a high suicide risk?
At various community services, including hospitals and social agencies
What is a resource that police officers can use to communicate with non-English speaking individuals?
AT&T Language Line
Why is it important for police officers to be aware of resources that can help non-English speaking individuals?
To assist victims, witnesses, families, and suspects who do not speak English
How can a police officer learn an additional language to improve communication with non-English speaking individuals?
All of the above
What is the purpose of having a ready reference available when encountering an individual with a high suicide risk?
To locate services available in the community for referral
Study Notes
Communication Barriers in Law Enforcement
- 70% of a person's waking time is spent in some form of linguistic communication (reading, writing, speaking, or listening)
- For law enforcement, about 90% (or more) of their waking time is spent in one of the four communication types (reading, writing, speaking, and/or listening)
Barriers to Communication
- Fear of authority
- Ethnic differences
- Educational levels
- Level of communication
- Language barriers
- Ethnic background
- Social background
- Police/citizen rapport
- Authority
- Prejudice
- Objectivity
Overcoming Barriers to Communication
- Recognize and admit that barriers exist
- Identify the barriers and factors that impact them
- Be willing to accept at least part of the responsibility for the barriers
- Develop a desire and willingness to overcome the barriers
- Take positive action to overcome the barriers
Categories of Barriers
- Physical barriers
- Physical illness
- Mechanical failures
- Language differences
- Poor, inadequate, uncomfortable facilities
- Physical discomfort (hard chairs, temperature, fatigue, noise)
- Perceptual barriers
- Misperceptions
- Spatial situations
- Failure to perceive someone's role or feelings
- Psychological/attitudinal barriers
- Status gaps
- Semantic differences
- Attitudinal barriers (failures to accept opposing views)
- The "halo effect" (perceiving someone in a very negative or positive way)
- Job-related barriers
- Failure to accept that a "police culture" exists
- Persecution complex among law enforcement people
- Interdepartmental or intradepartmental frictions
- Intercultural and interracial barriers
- Failure to establish better intercultural and interracial relationships
Five Principles to Overcome Barriers
- Recognize and admit that barriers to communication do exist
- Develop an understanding of what the barriers are
- Be willing to accept at least part of the responsibility for the barriers
- Develop a desire and willingness to overcome the barriers
- Take some positive action to overcome the barriers### Recognizing Suicide Threats
- Changing insurance policy or arranging for security of dependent others may indicate suicidal thoughts
- A sharp and sudden rise in mood after a long period of depression can also be a sign
- Saving up pills or obtaining a weapon is a threatening behavior
- Threats of suicide should never be taken lightly and require immediate psychiatric help
Common Feelings Accompanying Suicidal Thoughts
- Depression
- Agitation
- Denial
- Anxiety
- Hostility
- Worthlessness
- Hopelessness
- Inadequacy
Effective Intervention in Personal Crises
- Locate services available in the community for referral of those with a high suicide risk
- Referral services vary by community and may include emergency communication centers, fire control centers, hospitals, and social agencies
- Hot-line services, such as "Suicide Prevention," can also be helpful
Assisting Non-English Speakers
- Resources for assisting victims, witnesses, families, and suspects who do not speak English include:
- AT&T Language Line (1-800-643-2255) for translation services
- Community volunteers who speak the non-English language
- Officers learning an additional language, such as Spanish, through various methods (e.g., school, audio training tapes, computer programs, language centers)
This quiz covers the principles of effective communication in law enforcement, including understanding barriers and overcoming them. Learn how to improve communication skills in law enforcement.
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