title: Effects of reflex-based self-defence training on police performance in simulated high-pressure arrest situations.
abstract: We investigated the effects of reflex-based self-defence training on police performance in simulated high-pressure arrest situations. Police officers received this training as well as a regular police arrest and self-defence skills training (control training) in a crossover design. Officers' performance was tested on several variables in six reality-based scenarios before and after each training intervention. Results showed improved performance after the reflex-based training, while there was no such effect of the regular police training. Improved performance could be attributed to better communication, situational awareness (scanning area, alertness), assertiveness, resolution, proportionality, control and converting primary responses into tactical movements. As officers trained complete violent situations (and not just physical skills), they learned to use their actions before physical contact for de-escalation but also for anticipation on possible attacks. Furthermore, they learned to respond against attacks with skills based on their primary reflexes. The results of this study seem to suggest that reflex-based self-defence training better prepares officers for performing in high-pressure arrest situations than the current form of police arrest and self-defence skills training. Practitioner Summary: Police officers' performance in high-pressure arrest situations improved after a reflex-based self-defence training, while there was no such effect of a regular police training. As officers learned to anticipate on possible attacks and to respond with skills based on their primary reflexes, they were better able to perform effectively.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Movement Sciences , MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Renden
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Movement Sciences , MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.|b Faculty of Sports and Nutrition , Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geert J P
authors.initials: GJP
authors.lastname: Savelsbergh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Movement Sciences , MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.|b Faculty of Sports and Nutrition , Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Raôul R D
authors.initials: RRD
authors.lastname: Oudejans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D016495:Police / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011361:Professional Competence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012018:Reflex; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000066477:Work Performance
keywords: Anxiety; flinch; resilience; stress; threat