| Summary: | Abstract
The aim of this study is to increase knowledge of how police
officers define conflict and conflict management as well as how
they perceive their training in conflict management, in relation
to previous experiences, in-school training and their probationary
training. Swedish police officers (n = 20) who had recently finished
their probationary training were interviewed focusing on conflict
and conflict management. The study shows that the respondents had
general descriptions of conflict, which focused almost solely on
interpersonal conflict. Further, the development of adaptive conflict
behaviors during probationary training was largely dependent on
their instructors, whose role and tasks are very complex. In addition,
respondents reported an accelerated maturation process of sorts,
in which they described themselves as less naïve and more cynical,
despite their short time at work. The findings in this study might provide
valuable insights into how police officers perceive conflict and
conflict management.
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