Exploring the Relationship between Decision-Making Styles and Emotion Regulation: A Study of Police Officials in Portuguese Public Security

Carla Carvalho, Ana Pinto, Beatriz Pinedo, Soraia Oliveira (), Sonia Maria Guedes Gondim, Mary Sandra Carlotto and Rui Coelho de Moura
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Carla Carvalho: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Ana Pinto: Center for Business and Economics Research (CeBER), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Beatriz Pinedo: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Soraia Oliveira: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Sonia Maria Guedes Gondim: Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40210-730, Brazil
Mary Sandra Carlotto: Post-Graduate Program in Social, Work and Organizational Psychology (PG-PSTO), University of Brasília, Federal District, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
Rui Coelho de Moura: Research Center of Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security (ICPOL-ISCPSI), Public Security Police, Rua 1º de Maio, nº 3, 1349-040 Lisbon, Portugal

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: In public security policing, where pressure is constant, effective decision-making and emotion regulation are critical, especially for leaders. These processes significantly impact upon work results, performance, officials’ health, employee well-being, and the organizational environment. This study aims to broaden the understanding of decision-making styles and emotion-regulation strategies used by police officials in the Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP). We surveyed 138 Portuguese high-ranking police officials using two self-response questionnaires, namely the Emotion Regulation in the Workplace (ReTrab) and the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire (MDMQ), both translated, adapted, and validated for the Portuguese police context. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, followed by correlations to explore the relationship between emotion-regulation strategies and decision-making styles. Finally, through a regression analysis, the potential impact of this relationship was assessed. The results reveal that specific emotion-regulation strategies, except for adaptive ones, significantly influence and modify the decision-making styles of PSP officials. Dysfunctional and maladaptive emotion-regulation strategies lead to less adaptive decision-making styles, while functional strategies promote more adaptive styles. These findings have theoretical and practical implications, offering valuable insights for targeted training programs and interventions in the law-enforcement sector, benefiting the police personnel, the communities they serve, and public perceptions about police.

Keywords: emotion regulation; decision-making styles; Portuguese police officials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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