FACTORS OF POLICE OFFICERS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS FOR ACTION IN CRISIS AND WARTIME SITUATIONS

Abstract

In the context of increasing social tension and the involvement of National Police units in eliminating the consequences of war and crisis events, there is a growing need for an in-depth study of psychological factors that ensure the effectiveness of officers’ actions in extreme situations. One of these factors is psychological readiness for professional activity. Psychological readiness comprises motivational, cognitive, emotional-volitional, and communicative components that interact in the process of service adaptation. Given the complexity of modern service tasks, it is important not only to assess the overall level of readiness but also to identify the factors that determine its variations. These include age, length of service, unit affiliation, police rank, the quality of professional communication among colleagues, and the effectiveness of educational and training programs. The aim of the study is to determine the levels and structure of police officers’ psychological readiness for action in extreme conditions, as well as to identify age-related, service-related, and communication factors influencing this indicator. The sample consisted of 267 police officers aged 21 to 58, with service experience ranging from several months to more than thirty years, representing different units and ranks. The diagnostic tool used was the methodology “Psychological Readiness of a Specialist for Extreme Professional Activity”. The results indicated that, overall, police officers demonstrated an average level of readiness, although with considerable heterogeneity: alongside “average” indicators, there were groups with very low and very high levels. Age analysis revealed a slight advantage among younger officers, while work experience did not appear to be a decisive factor. Comparisons by units and ranks showed that the highest levels of readiness were characteristic of investigators and leadership, whereas lower levels were typical of logistics and monitoring services. The subscale “Mutual Assistance and Trust” emerged as one of the strongest predictors of overall readiness, emphasizing the crucial role of professional communication culture.