Threat-Related Attentional Biases in Police Officers and Martial Artists: Investigating Potential Differences Using the E-Stroop and Dot Probe Task

Staller, Mario S, Zaiser, Benjamin, Koerner, Swen and Cole, Jon C ORCID: 0000-0003-3515-0183 (2017) Threat-Related Attentional Biases in Police Officers and Martial Artists: Investigating Potential Differences Using the E-Stroop and Dot Probe Task SAGE OPEN, 7 (2). 2158244017712776-. ISSN 2158-2440, 2158-2440

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the possible development of threat-related attentional bias due to the work as a police officer. For this purpose, we compared four groups, differing with regard to their experience in policing and martial arts: (a) police officers with no experience in martial arts ( n = 74), (b) martial artists ( n = 50), (c) police officers with martial arts experience ( n = 33), and (d) a control group ( n = 48). Participants completed the Dot Probe Task, the Emotional Stroop Task, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The results on the Dot Probe and the Emotional Stroop Task showed that the groups did not differ with regard to threat-related attentional biases. However, the control group showed higher measures of trait anxiety compared with the other groups. The results are discussed in the light of police use of force and martial arts training, as well as with regard to optimizing psychological measures to capture functional threat-related attentional bias.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	threat-related attentional bias, Emotional Stroop Task, Dot Probe Task, trait anxiety, policing, martial arts
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2018 11:00
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2026 23:06
DOI:	10.1177/2158244017712776
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3018538
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