Jennette Lucas Dropbox Assignment 1 MSCJ: 561A: Crisis Intervention Tony Gaskew, Ph.

D Columbia College

#1. Define the term crisis. Explain in detail the trilogy of a crisis. Crisis: A state of disequilibrium that occurs after a stressor (precipitating event). The person is then unable to function in one or more areas of his or her life because customary coping mechanisms have failed(Kanel, page 14) Trilogy definition: The three-part approach to understanding what a crisis is, including the precipitating event, subjective distress (caused by cognitions), and, usually, failure to cope, which leads to lowered functioning. The three parts of a crisis are these: (1) a precipitating event; (2) a perception of the event that causes subjective distress; and (3) the failure of a persons usual coping methods, which causes a person experiencing the precipitating event to function at a lower level than before the event(Kanel, page 2) #2. Define the term stress. Describe the three primary sources of stress and explain in what way stress can be curbed in each. There are many different definitions of stress the most common is, physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension cause by anxiety or overwork. Our textbook also defines stress as: a.) an applied force or system of forces that tend to strain or deform a body; b.) the internal resistance of a body to such an applied force or system of forces; c.) a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, ad depression; d.) a stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition. (Stevens, page 30) Sources of stress are found in a persons daily living, personality, and job. (Stevens, page 33) #3. List and explain the characteristics of effective coping. 1. 2. 3. 4. Actively exploring reality issues and searching for information. Freely expressing both positive and negative feeling and tolerating frustration. Actively invoking help from others. Breaking problems down into manageable bits and working through them one at a time. 5. Being aware of fatigue and pacing coping efforts while maintaining control in as many areas of functioning as possible. 6. Mastering feelings where possible, being flexible and willing to change. 7. Trusting in oneself and others and having a basic optimism about the outcome. (Kanel, page 12, Table 1.1) #4. Describe what is meant by the revolving door of justice and articulate its consequences upon police officer stress. Provide some examples that can support the revolving door of justice perspective. In what (legal) way could the revolving door of justice be remedied?

The implication of the metaphor is that individuals in conflict with the law are playing with the door of the courts and prisons, just going round and round, and not spending enough time in prison. A revolving door is when the prisons are so full that they have to release a prisoner early so they can take in a new one. Also, the same people come up before the courts repeatedly. #5. Thoroughly explain the ABC model of crisis intervention. The three aspects of a crisis are (1) A precipitating event occurs (Developing and maintaining rapport: including use of basic attending skills, paraphrasing, and reflection of feeling); (2) the perception of this event leads to subjective distress (Identifying the nature of the crisis and altering cognitions, including identifying aspects of the crisis state, medical issues, altering cognitions, and support and validation); and (3) usual coping methods fail, leading the person experiencing the event to function psychologically, emotionally, or behaviorally at a lower level than before the precipitating event occurred (Coping which includes resolution, referral, and support groups. A de-briefing session follows each counseling session). In order to successfully help a client cope with a crisis, these three components must be recognized so that the counselor can help the client identify and overcome the crisis. The perception of the event is by far the most crucial to identify, as this is the one that can help the counselor select the best treatment for the client. (Kanel, page 26) #6. Describe the two function police officers tend to perform in their role as gatekeepers of the justice community. In what way would you agree with the gatekeeper description of officers? The police are the gatekeepers of the criminal justice because they manage the entry point to the criminal justice system. The gatekeeper managing the first step in bringing the force of the criminal law to bear on offenders. Let us take the example of the domestic violence. Because law enforcement agencies have a major responsibility for enforcing criminal domestic violence laws, law enforcement officers are often the first to intervene in domestic violence, and are the first contact that a victim or perpetrator has with the criminal justice system