Police officers and trauma: psychological impacts and coping mechanisms

By Pinguédwindé Henri Joël Soubeiga

This book plunges into the psychological world of Burkinabe police officers confronted with critical incidents. Through an in-depth qualitative study, it examines the traumatic consequences of their exposure to extreme events, in an institutional context devoid of formal psychological support mechanisms. The study is based on a methodology combining semi-structured interviews and three internationally recognized psychometric tests: the TraumaQ (trauma assessment), the WCC (coping strategies) and the DSQ-40 (defense mechanisms). The analysis focuses on two cases of police officers who survived a terrorist ambush together during an operation. The results reveal a correlation between the psychological mechanisms mobilized and the degree of resilience. While one subject showed relatively unaffected adaptation, thanks to problem-focused coping strategies and mature defenses, the other showed marked decompensation, characterized by alternating coping styles and the use of the full range of defensive mechanisms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 6208875684
• ISBN13: 9786208875688
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Our Knowledge Publishing
• Length: 68 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"