Using concepts related to groups and group dynamics, explain what happened in this situation
Group dynamics aims at understanding the behavior and characteristics of a certain social group. It is able to tell the extent of discrimination and racism faced by the social group. Officer Barton joined the police force after getting trained but was not familiar with the lifestyle of the city. He entered the police force and was able to adapt the culture of solidarity and being secretive. All the new trainees had different cultures and lifestyles as well as attitudes and behaviors. They were all able to adapt to the culture of the police officers and slowly absorbed in to the culture of other officers. Barton wanted to be a good officer who would protect and fight for rights of his people which was not the case since he adapted to the behavior of other police officers and his trainers. He learnt how to protect his fellow officers instead. Barton and his crew were given a task to eliminate a gang which terrorized people. Instead of getting members of the gang, the officers terrorized people and arrested people who were not associated with the gang. As a member of the police group that was to arrest the gang members, he was unable to protect innocent people even though he remained neutral.
When does group cohesiveness cease to be positive and become pathological?
Group cohesiveness cease to be positive when almost all other members in the group are in agreement to do wrong instead of doing the right thing. For example Barton as a new officer was taught bad behaviors and morals. He was ready to help the public and fight for the rights of the public but was enrolled in a group which did not maintain good characters. Many members in the group come to agreement and support rules against the given standards. Police officers work hand in hand together and are able to protect each other since their subcultures are important to them. They are able to work together in achieving bad characters instead of working together to protect the public.
Are subcultures in police work inevitable? Explain
Subcultures in the police work have turned to be inevitable. The trainees are able to get those cultures from trainers and other old members of the police force. This always goes unasked since even the police bosses are involved in these subcultures. New police trainees are assimilated in these subcultures. Barton wanted to be a good police officer but was not given a room to exercise the right to help his people. Instead he was given a group which did not give him a chance to exercise his duty as police officer. His fellow group members terrorized innocent people and worked in hand with the members of the gang. They arrested innocent people and released the gang members. This shows how the police force is faced with cases of discrimination and corruption by arresting innocent people and setting free the criminals. Subcultures cannot be avoided since police officers work as a group and protect one another. Failure to protect a fellow officer will lead to serious consequences. In most cases they do not help the public but work to achieve their own interests. These subcultures are initiated by the police trainers who train new officers to adopt such negative subcultures.
What steps might you take, as a police administrator, to prevent this from occurring?
As a police administrator, I would employ other new trainers who are not aware of the subcultures in the police force. New trainers will train police officers towards safeguarding rights of the public instead of allowing their interests first. I would supervise the training period in order to ensure that the new police officers are trained according to the set standards and disciplines of the police force. I would administer punishments to police officers who do not follow the given rules, regulations and standards of the police force. I would ensure that police officers whether new or old follow the set rules and regulations of the police force. I would reward those good police officers in order for them to become motivated and thus motivate others. Giving rewards to those officers who perform well in their duties is an important strategy which ensures that performance is maintained high.
