Abstract
This article examines the portrayal of police psychologists in the cinema. A comparison is made between motion picture and television depiction of “cop shrinks.” Through content analysis of video segments from recent films, the case is made that a skewed picture is provided to the viewing public about the actual roles and functions of professional psychologists employed by law enforcement agencies. The value of entertainment is discussed in terms of the importance of accuracy. An argument is made for the need for professional organizations such as the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology (SPCP) to lobby film makers to more completely present the realistic contributions of psychology to law enforcement personnel and organizations. Stereotypes and type casting are revealed as media perpetuation of myth and misinformation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartol, C. R. (1996). Police psychology.Criminal Justice & Behavior, 23 (1), 70–89.
Bergen, G. T. & Aceto, R. T. (1992). Job satisfaction of police psychologists.Criminal Justice & Behavior, 19 (3), 314–329.
Blau, T. H. (1994).Psychological Services for Law Enforcement. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Chandler, J. T. (1990).Modern Police Psychology: For Law Enforcement and Human Behavior professionals. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
Coleman, D. M. (1995). Images of psychotherapists from feature films: 1945–1994.Dissertation Abstracts International, 56-05B, 2858.
Curran, S. F. (1955). Positioning psychological services for the 21st century. In J.T. Reese & R.M. Solomon (Eds.)Organizational Issues in Law Enforcement. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Delprino, R. P. & Bahn, C. (1988). National survey of the extent and nature of psychological services in police departments.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 9, 421–425.
Davis, J. A. (1995). The police psychologist: The emergence of behavioral scientists in law enforcement.The Police Chief, 62 (11), 36; 39.
Dietz, P. E. & Reese, J. T. (1986). The perils of police psychology: 10 strategies for minimizing role conflicts when providing mental health services and consultation to law enforcement agencies.Behavioral Science & the Law, 4 (4), 385–400.
Flanagan, C. L. (1986). A comparison of the roles of police psychologists and the psychological consultant to law enforcement agencies. In J.T. Reese & H.A. Goldstein (Eds.),Psychological Services for Law Enforcement. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Greenberg, S. A. & Shuman, D. W. (1997). Irreconcilable conflict between therapeutic and forensic roles.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 28 (1), 50–57.
Herndon, J. S. (1999). The police psychologist on the silver screen: Reviewing the roles on the reels. A presentation at the annual conference, Society for Police and Criminal Psychology, Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York, October 8.
Herndon, J. S. (2000). Readdressing role conflicts in police psychology: Inside, outside, upside, downside. Poster session presented at the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association, Division 18, Washington, DC, August 6.
Kirkham, G. (1976).Signal Zero. Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott.
Konigsberg, I. (1995). Cinema, psychoanalysis, and hermeneutics: G.W. Pabst's “Secrets of a Soul.”Michigan Quarterly Review, 34 (4), 518–547.
Kurke, M. I. & Scrivner, E. M. (Eds.) (1995).Police Psychology into the 21 st Century. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Lefkowitz, J. (1977) Industrial-organizational psychology and the police.American Psychologist, (5), 346–364.
Loo, R. (1986). Police psychology: The emergence of a new field.The Police Chief, 53 (2), 26–29.
Mann, P. A. (1973).Psychological Consultation with a Police Department. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
McMains, M. J. (1988). Psychologists roles in hostage negotiations. In J.T. Reese & J.M. Horn (Eds.),Police Psychology: Operational Assistance. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mohandie, K., Piersol, F. E. & Klyver, N. (1995). Law enforcement turmoil and transitions and the evolving role of the police psychologist. In J. T. Reese & R. M. Solomon (Eds.),Organizational Issues in Law Enforcement. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
More, H. W. & Unsinger, P. C. (Eds.) (1987).Police Managerial Use of Psychology and Psychologists. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
Price, K. O. (1995) The expanding role of psychologists in police departments. In J. T. Reese & R. M. Solomon (Eds.),Organizational Issues in Law Enforcement. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Reese, J. T. & Horn, J. M. (Eds.) (1988).Police Psychology: Operational Assistance. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Reiser, M. (1972).The Police Department Psychologist. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
Reiser, M. (1982).Police Psychology: Collected Papers. Los Angeles, CA: LEHI.
Reiser, M. & Klyver, N. (1987). Consulting with police. In I.B. Weiner & A.K. Hess (Eds.),Handbook of Forensic Psychology. New York. Wiley.
Sancho-Aldrige, J. & Gunter, B. (1994). Effects of a TV drama series upon public impressions about psychiatrists.Psychological Reports, 74 (1), 163–178.
Schlossberg, H. & Freeman, L. (1974).Psychologist with a Gun. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.
Scrivner, E. M. (1994).The Role of Police Psychology in Controlling Excessive Force. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.
Somodevilla, S. A. (1978). The psychologist's role in the police department.The Police Chief (4), 21–23.
Trotter, R. J. (1987). Psychologist with a badge.Psychology Today, (11), 26–30.
White, E. K. & Honig, A. L. (1995). The role of the police psychologist in training. In M.J. Kurke & E.M. Scrivner (Eds.),Police Psychology into the 21 st Century. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Herndon, J.S. The police psychologist on the silver screen: Reviewing the roles on the reels. J Police Crim Psych 15, 30–40 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802663
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802663