Trinidad and Tobago Police Academy Behavioral Science Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the chapters of the TTPS Behavioral Science Manual, including Ethics, Procedural Justice, Communication, Conflict Management, Gangs, Gender, Leadership, Domestic Violence, and Mental Health.

Behavioural Science

A scientific discipline in which the actions and reactions of humans and animals are studied through observational and experimental methods.

Neural or Information Sciences

A branch of Behavioural Science involving the processing of information from the social environment as it relates to decision making, social judgment and social perception.

Social or Relational Sciences

A branch of Behavioural Science associated with the relationships, human interaction, communication networks, and relational strategies between people in a social system.

Ethics

Personal values, ideas or beliefs that influence a person’s conduct; in law enforcement, it refers to values and principles of conduct applying to a police officer.

Integrity

The qualities of uprightness, soundness, and honesty, demonstrated in the TTPS through remaining fair, transparent, and accountable.

Moral Sensitivity

The ability of police officers to recognize when an ethical issue arises and how their actions may impact colleagues, victims, suspects, and the community.

Moral Judgment

The capacity to determine what is right or wrong when faced with ethical dilemmas by applying critical thinking and weighing competing values like justice and fairness.

Moral Motivation

The inner drive of TTPS officers to act ethically and uphold principles of honesty and justice, influenced by rewards and emotions.

Moral Character

The maturity, courage, and discipline required to consistently act in alignment with the law and professional standards despite temptation or pressure.

Code of Silence (Blue Curtain)

A fraternal understanding amongst police officers under which they regard testimony against a fellow officer as betrayal.

Chiselling

Police corruption involving demands for free admission to entertainment, price discounts, and similar activities.

Shakedown

Extorting business owners for protection money.

Mooching

The act of receiving free items like coffee, cigarettes, or meals due to being in an underpaid profession or for potential future acts of favouritism.

Noble Cause Corruption

The use of morally bad or 'dirty' means and the misuse of authority to pursue positive or socially approved ends.

Meat Eaters

A term used by Edwin Delattre for officers with 'Bad Character' who exemplify absolute self-interest and seek opportunities to profit by victimizing others.

Grass Eaters

A term used by Edwin Delattre for officers with 'Weak Character' who are weak-willed and vulnerable to temptations although they may not have harmful intentions.

Procedural Justice

The notion that citizens are more concerned about how they are treated during an encounter with police than the actual outcome of that encounter.

Police Legitimacy

The trust and confidence citizens exercise in the police by accepting their moral authority to enforce the law.

Attentiveness

The first element of 'Policing for People' meaning officers must be alert, listen to customers, and be visible and committed to giving service.

Reliability

The expectation of predictable, timely, and error-free service from police officers.

Competence

Knowledge of the job, laws, policies, and procedures that builds self-esteem and public trust.

Customer Service

How effectively an organization consistently meets and exceeds its customers’ expectations.

Internal Customers

Individuals who work within the organization to help achieve objectives, such as fellow officers, cleaners, and IT professionals.

External Customers

Individuals outside the police organization including the public, criminals under investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.

Communication

The process of effectively transmitting information and common understanding from one person to another with the intention to inform, motivate, or influence behaviour.

Noise

Anything that interferes with the transmission, interpretation, and understanding of communication, including culture, attitudes, and environment.

Feedback

Occurs when a receiver responds to a sender’s communication, allowing the sender to determine if the message was correctly interpreted.

Micro-expressions

Fleeting facial expressions lasting only a few tenths of a second that can reveal true feelings and emotions.

Personal Space

The space surrounding an individual enclosed by a movable, invisible boundary in which some people are not welcome.

Conflict

A situation in which persons use rational or non-rational behaviour against each other to attain incompatible goals or express hostility.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Means of settling conflicts outside the courtroom, such as mediation, negotiation, or arbitration.

Mediation

A process in which a neutral third party helps disputants fashion their own resolution to a problem.

Caucus

A technique in mediation where the mediator speaks privately to each individual to identify what is hampering the forward movement.

Social Loafing

The tendency to withhold physical or intellectual effort when performing a group task; letting other members do the work.

Free Rider Effect

A form of social loafing where people reduce efforts to get a 'free ride' at the expense of other group members.

Sucker Effect

A form of social loafing where people reduce effort because they feel others are free riding, attempting to restore equity.

Emotional Intelligence

The capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and relationships.

Eckman’s Basic Emotions

The six primary emotions identified by Paul Eckman: fear, disgust, anger, surprise, happiness, and sadness.

Hubris

A self-conscious emotion defined as exaggerated pride or self-confidence that often results in retribution.

Eustress

Stress that has the potential to create positive or favourable outcomes, such as providing a competitive edge.

Distress

Stress that comes from unpleasant and unwanted events; it can be acute or chronic.

Burnout

A state characterized by emotional exhaustion, a sense of frustration, and lowered self-efficacy resulting from excessive stress.

Anger Arousal Cycle

A model consisting of five phases: Trigger, Escalation, Crisis, Recovery, and Post-crisis Depression.

Gang

Any durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of their group identity.

Anti-Gang Act

Legislation in Trinidad and Tobago defining a gang as a combination of two or more persons engaging in gang-related activity.

Saga Boys

Delinquent young men in Trinidad (1941-1943) known for gaudy dress and involvement in vice, who JD Elder claims gave rise to the steel band.

Sex

Biological traits such as chromosomes, reproductive organs, and hormone levels typically assigned at birth.

Gender

A socially constructed concept encompassing roles, behaviours, and expectations that societies assign to individuals.

Gender Mainstreaming

The integration of gender perspectives at all levels of decision-making within the TTPS to ensure equitable access to resources and leadership.

Transactional Leadership

A leadership style that manages through structured systems of rewards and corrective feedback, focusing on consistency and goal alignment.

Transformational Leadership

A style where leaders inspire followers through shared vision, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration.

Seagull Management

A negative leadership style where managers appear suddenly, criticize harshly, and then leave without providing support.

Domestic Violence

Any form of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, or financial abuse committed against a spouse, child, household member, or dependent.

Resource Theory

Proposed by William Goode (1971), it posits that imbalances in access to economic or social resources influence power dynamics and may lead to violence.

Cycle of Violence

A repetitive pattern of abuse in relationships consisting of Tension Building, Incident, Reconciliation, and Calm phases.

Power and Control Wheel

A tool describing tactics abusers use to dominate victims, including intimidation, isolation, emotional abuse, and economic abuse.

S.A.R.A. Model

A problem-solving method in community policing consisting of Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment.

Broken Windows Theory

A theory suggesting that untended disorder (like a broken window) encourages further neglect and leads to increased crime.

Work-Life Balance

A simultaneous balance between the emotional, behavioural, and time demands of paid work, personal, and family responsibilities.

Use of Force Continuum

A five-level framework (Perception, Assess, Plan, Act) guiding officers from mere presence to the use of deadly force.