4 answers
Pria
Student
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How do I know if I'm cut out for my dream job?
I've always loved criminal psychology. The real life one and the shows. How do I know if I'm cut out to be around criminals all day? What are the biggest challenges to doing this?
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Pria !
I would like to start by saying that what we see on TV and in film is not a good representation of what it may be like for you to become a police officer. Is that the career you are interested in ? It wasn't too clear but I get the impression you want to be around criminals and although there are many positions you could have involving criminals you would have to get a good idea to test whether or not it would be for you. Keep in mind that TV and Film can be influencers in their own right, however the crime shows are deliberately out there for entertainment, time limited, rehearsed and acted with the exception of some reality shows. You have to get out there and see for yourself in person in real time.
Criminal Psychology as a study is within the study of psychology. You would also have to take courses in things such as abnormal psychology, sociology, and such after getting a good basic foundation in the first and second levels of basic psychology which entails all realms of human behavior.
Being around criminals or the types of cases you might have could involve anything: domestic violence, drugs, rape, murder, violence, arson, robbery, psychiatric decompensation, vandalism, kidnapping, white collar crime, drug overdose, road rage, drunk or drugged driving, etc. You would need to test your threshold for tolerance to being around body fluids, dead bodies, people moaning, screaming, cursing at you, resistance and other situations that may arise. It helps if you have a natural tolerance and resilience to these things to begin with but it never hurts to try to discover your personal tolerance levels. One way to do this is to go for a ride along. This is an experience in which you ride with police officers to their calls and observe the activity. Call your local police station and see if they do ride alongs and ask how old one has to be and if you fit the age ask if you can schedule to ride along. You may want to go along with them on the second or third shift - not that crime doesn't happen on the first shift, but you may just get a better experience going on a late shift and see more activity.
Evaluate your innate ability to remain calm under stress and frustration. You would have to be able to be calm in all instances in your work with the public. You will also need excellent communication skills as you would sometimes have to be able to communicate with individuals who are unable to communicate logically, rationally or articulately.
You can also audit an administration of justice course at your local college as a way to see what some of it may be like. Call your local college and ask about auditing a class. Just to share with you a story, I had the opportunity in college to audit a class that my friend who was majoring in it invited me to. Three prisoners from Folsom Prison were giving presentations that day and as an actor majoring in Theatre, I could not miss this experience. Two were murderers and one was imprisoned for grand larceny. That was such a valuable experience because the prisoners spoke of their behavior and experiences in prison, something I never knew about. So I highly advise that you try to get the exposure that would be valuable to you, even if it may be volunteer work at your local police station.
The biggest challenge would depend on your tolerance for noise, stress, hectic pace, and visually seeing very brutal and sad imagery on your eight hour shift. There needs to be a special kind of armor that you need so you do not get vicarious trauma working with crime every day. Many special people have this ability and you may be one of them.
I hope that this has given you some ideas and I wish you well in your plans !
I would like to start by saying that what we see on TV and in film is not a good representation of what it may be like for you to become a police officer. Is that the career you are interested in ? It wasn't too clear but I get the impression you want to be around criminals and although there are many positions you could have involving criminals you would have to get a good idea to test whether or not it would be for you. Keep in mind that TV and Film can be influencers in their own right, however the crime shows are deliberately out there for entertainment, time limited, rehearsed and acted with the exception of some reality shows. You have to get out there and see for yourself in person in real time.
Criminal Psychology as a study is within the study of psychology. You would also have to take courses in things such as abnormal psychology, sociology, and such after getting a good basic foundation in the first and second levels of basic psychology which entails all realms of human behavior.
Being around criminals or the types of cases you might have could involve anything: domestic violence, drugs, rape, murder, violence, arson, robbery, psychiatric decompensation, vandalism, kidnapping, white collar crime, drug overdose, road rage, drunk or drugged driving, etc. You would need to test your threshold for tolerance to being around body fluids, dead bodies, people moaning, screaming, cursing at you, resistance and other situations that may arise. It helps if you have a natural tolerance and resilience to these things to begin with but it never hurts to try to discover your personal tolerance levels. One way to do this is to go for a ride along. This is an experience in which you ride with police officers to their calls and observe the activity. Call your local police station and see if they do ride alongs and ask how old one has to be and if you fit the age ask if you can schedule to ride along. You may want to go along with them on the second or third shift - not that crime doesn't happen on the first shift, but you may just get a better experience going on a late shift and see more activity.
Evaluate your innate ability to remain calm under stress and frustration. You would have to be able to be calm in all instances in your work with the public. You will also need excellent communication skills as you would sometimes have to be able to communicate with individuals who are unable to communicate logically, rationally or articulately.
You can also audit an administration of justice course at your local college as a way to see what some of it may be like. Call your local college and ask about auditing a class. Just to share with you a story, I had the opportunity in college to audit a class that my friend who was majoring in it invited me to. Three prisoners from Folsom Prison were giving presentations that day and as an actor majoring in Theatre, I could not miss this experience. Two were murderers and one was imprisoned for grand larceny. That was such a valuable experience because the prisoners spoke of their behavior and experiences in prison, something I never knew about. So I highly advise that you try to get the exposure that would be valuable to you, even if it may be volunteer work at your local police station.
The biggest challenge would depend on your tolerance for noise, stress, hectic pace, and visually seeing very brutal and sad imagery on your eight hour shift. There needs to be a special kind of armor that you need so you do not get vicarious trauma working with crime every day. Many special people have this ability and you may be one of them.
I hope that this has given you some ideas and I wish you well in your plans !
Anna Nemchinova
Commercial Solutions Manager
7
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Anna’s Answer
If you're truly dedicated to your dream job, you have the power to hone your skills to the level needed for success. Choosing a field that keeps you inspired is key, as it helps you stay focused on your dream. Don't hesitate to give it a shot and see if it aligns with your interests, so you won't have any regrets in the future. Remember, it's common for people to switch careers at various points in their lives, so you're never trapped if you decide it's not for you.
Katherine Avery
Run a music studio and teach private music lessons; teach college-level religion classes
350
Answers
Spanish Fork, Utah
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Maybe look at Ken Coleman's book From Paycheck to Purpose and see what ideas you get for what step you want to take next. For sure it should help you feel some excitement and more confident about your dreams.
Alan Weber
writer and retired teacher, teacher educator and academic advisor
207
Answers
Woodstock, New York
Updated
Alan’s Answer
Pria, the general answer is that we don't know if we're "cut out" for something until we've tried it. But you can start by considering what skills you have, how you react in certain situations, and how passionate your interest is. Real world criminal psychology is probably quite different from what you've seen on television, but you can certainly start with some psychology and criminal justice courses and see if they suit you. I'm sure there are psychological issues involved in working with criminals. It must take emotional health, perspective, strength, skill and the ability to separate your personal life from what you deal with at work. And you can always do visits and interviews with people in the field to get a better understanding of what the job really entails.