Course Details

Course TitleABPPSP: Police Use of Force: What Psychologists Need To Know
Date Varies
ProviderCONCEPT Continuing & Professional Studies (Palo Alto University)
Phone650) 434-2381
Emailcaps@paloaltou.edu
Website https://concept.paloaltou.edu/course/ABPPSP-Police-Use-of-Force-What-Psychologists-Need-To-Know
LocationOnline
Credit Hours4
Instructor(s)Mark Zelg, PhD
Method of InstructionOnline (Asynchronous/Self-paced)
Approving AgencyAPA
Course Syllabus

Course Description

This on-demand professional training program on Police Use of Force: What Psychologists Need to Know is presented by Mark Zelig, PhD, ABPP in partnership with the American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP). In the past two years, North American law enforcement agencies have received considerable scrutiny because of several well-publicized incidents of excessive force, especially toward various minority and cultural groups. Presented by a psychologist who has 25 years of experience as a sworn police officer, this program reviews the existing "force" science, the relationship between implicit biases and force deployment, and identifies areas in which psychological science can help law enforcement increase the safety of police officers and the citizens whom they serve. Note: The presentation displays videos of use-of-force encounters. This may be stressful to some participants.

Course Objectives

Describe the force continuum and the base rate of deadly force deployments in the United States


Describe at least three studies that have correlated poor executive functioning with implicit bias and inappropriate force decisions


Describe three studies in force science and the impact of those studies on police officers and police academy curricula


Describe three examples of deadly force misinformation held by activists and police officers