Police officers: stress and decision-making

The purpose of this critical appraisal is to analyze existing research and apply it to the law enforcement field to answer the following research question: How does stress play a role in decision-making for police officers? 15 articles were analyzed for the purpose of this study in accordance with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their findings were then assessed in terms of validity, trustworthiness, and relevance and value. After the assessment, the conclusions made by the sources which were deemed to be credible and reliable were taken into account to answer the research question. The key findings of the study found that stress has both a positive and negative effect on decision-making for police officers. It was concluded that stress causes issues in emotional regulation and tactical motor skills which causes officers to under or over react. However, it was also noted that an exposure to stress over-time allows officers to adapt to the stressful situations presented to them while on duty. This repeated exposure to stress aids in adaptation and better management of stress to mitigate its negative effects.