INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ANTECEDENTS OF ROLE STRESS, WORK ALIENATION, AND ANOMIE AMONG POLICE EXECUTIVES

This study assessed the idea that pervasive features of the occupation al environment adversely affect the working psychology of police execu tives. These features of the chiefs' occupational environment, it is s uggested, overwhelm individual characteristics that in themselves are perceived to have positive effects. Data were provided from nationally based random-sampling surveys of police chiefs and sheriffs. Individu al characteristics of interest to police reformers were selected. It w as found that measures of these characteristics were consistently asso ciated with positive psychological outcomes. However, when measures of institutional and organizational effects were included, the beneficia l outcomes often disappeared.