Analysis of the Effects Produced by FFF on Security Professionals.

Abstract

Stress affects the neurobiological functioning of human beings. Thus, the stress to which Security Forces and Corps (FFCCSE) are exposed could translate into inappropriate behaviours during their actions. They are trained to deal with threatening situations, but the accumulation of stressors could lead to behaviours

related to the Freeze, Fight & Flight theory (Cannon, 2015). These are reactions, physiological responses to an attack or danger sensed as a threat (Roelofs,

2017). The aim of this work is to investigate stressors by analysing differences according to gender, tenure in the corps, age and the organisation to which they

belong. The sample consisted of 170 participants (74.7% male), aged between 18 and 65 years, including Guardia Civil (27.1%); the 3 Armies (5.9%); Police (18.2%) and Security Guards (32.9%). The survey ‘Fight and Flight Therapy Test’ (Tessler, 2011) was used as well as a semi-structured Ad-hoc interview to analyse stressors. Participants exceeded acceptable levels of stress. Security officers showed more stress. Between 26 and 35 years of age, they show higher levels of stress. Anxiety is present in one third of the participants. All the professionals suffer frustrations due to decisions made by their managers. Between 6 and 15 years of experience, burn-out begins. The factors observed (inadequate rest, changes in circadian cycles, accumulation of stress due to daily confrontation with criminality, family and social pressures) can negatively affect an officer's responses, reacting by freezing, fleeing the scene or coping with a situation.