Chapter 6 - Some Psychological Aspects of Supervision

Question 1

Individuals generally become better performers when

A. Jobs are simplified and basic
B. They are made to want to perform better
C. Supervisors exercise close control and follow-up
D. They have a supervisor they are familiar with

Answer 1

B. They are made to want to perform better

Question 2

The performance of workers is generally most affected by

A. Factors in the physical environment
B. Selected factors dealing with the work process
C. Psychological and social factors
D. The minutes worked in an hour, and hours worked in a week

Answer 2

C. Psychological and social factors

Question 3

A basic human drive is the wish for security and is base on

A. Avoidance
B. Fear
C. Apprehensiveness
D. All of the above

Answer 3

D. All of the above

Question 4

A basic human drive is the wish for response and is derived from all of the below except

A. Love
B. Friendships
C. Fame
D. Affection

Answer 4

C. Fame

Question 5

A basic human drive is the wish for recognition and is gained from all of the below except

A. Status
B. Independence
C. Prestige
D. Social approval

Answer 5

B. Independence

Question 6

A basic human drive is one for new experiences which includes all of the below except

A. Curiosity
B. Adventure
C. Independence
D. Craving for excitement

Answer 6

C. Independence

Question 7

The basic psychological needs that have a vital bearing upon the behavior of individuals are mostly a feeling of security, a sense of adequacy, a sense of social approval, and

A. A need for opportunity
B. Affection
C. Intelligence
D. A sense of self-esteem

Answer 7

D. A sense of self-esteem

Question 8

The psychological feeling of inadequacy may best be described as

A. A normal one
B. An emotional illness
C. An inferiority complex
D. A need for social approval

Answer 8

C. An inferiority complex

Question 9

Sergeant Brown feels that one of his subordinate’s, Officer Smith, does not have the self-confidence and proficiency that he should in order to carry out assignments in the way expected. Of the following, which choice the sergeant might make is least desirable?

A. Assign Officer Smith to duties that are likely to bring about successes
B. Give the officer sincere praise when his work warrants it
C. Provide training in areas where the officer shows weakness
D. Assign the officer to duties that make small demands upon him

Answer 9

D. Assign the officer to duties that make small demands upon him

Question 10

When a supervisor asks a subordinate to speak to him about his problems, fears, frustrations, etc., he is having this officer engage in a form of

A. Motivation
B. Catharsis
C. Conditioning
D. Dynamic tension

Answer 10

B. Catharsis

Question 11

Talking about one’s problems is particularly helpful in reducing feelings of

A. An obvious emotional imbalance
B. Fear, guilt, anxiety, or hostility and failure
C. False reality associated with a superiority complex
D. Preoccupation and acute depression

Answer 11

B. Fear, guilt, anxiety, or hostility and failure

Question 12

Which of the following is often the direct cause of debilitating anxieties, fears, and feelings of insecurity among police officers?

A. The absence of any real supervision or leadership
B. A lack of their knowledge or understanding about the job
C. Overbearing supervision, namely in the area of follow-up
D. Assignment to positions that provide little or no responsibility

Answer 12

B. A lack of their knowledge or understanding about the job

Question 13

Unresolved emotional ills often result in

A. Conditions of neurosis
B. Expressions of fear
C. Permissive behavior
D. An oversimplification of conflicts

Answer 13

A. Conditions of neurosis

Question 14

The psychological character of an adult is generally thought to be

A. A result of good or bad supervision
B. A fixation of frustration
C. A product of childhood conditions
D. Related to predetermined goals

Answer 14

C. A product of childhood conditions

Question 15

Should individuals become thwarted in fulfilling their desires and goals, the feeling that is most likely to develop is

A. Hate
B. Apathy
C. Conflict
D. Frustration

Answer 15

D. Frustration

Question 16

Psychological problems that go unchecked or unresolved by individuals will

A. Effect others near them
B. Become worse
C. Cause childish tantrums
D. Give expression as fear

Answer 16

B. Become worse

Question 17

The wise supervisor who is confronted by a particular type of conduct will know it usually results from

A. One primary cause
B. Hate or love
C. Different and varied stimuli
D. Uncontrolled frustration

Answer 17

C. Different and varied stimuli

Question 18

Police officers who are troubled and not performing up to standard are affected by a wide variety of causes, but the results to the organization are

A. Based on poor quality of production
B. Generally the same
C. Based on low quantity of production
D. Just as varied

Answer 18

B. Generally the same

Question 19

A supervisor must deal and understand the emotional problems that his subordinates have. It would generally be better to deal with such problems in

A. A manner that is not detectable by the subordinate
B. A long-range program, working step-by-step until success is achieved
C. A calm atmosphere, adhering to proven principles of leadership
D. A way that is practical and based on common sense

Answer 19

D. A way that is practical and based on common sense

Question 20

Helping subordinates with their emotional problems is not always successful for the supervisor, but ordinarily the degree of success achieved is directly related to

A. How long the subordinate has had his problem
B. The subordinate’s ability to receive and carry out instructions
C. The patience, understanding, and effort the supervisor expends
D. Predetermined aspirations and goals that are job related

Answer 20

C. The patience, understanding, and effort the supervisor expends

Question 21

To be able to deal with subordinates who lack emotional stability, it is most important for the supervisor to

A. Be emotionally well-adjusted
B. Understand basic psychology
C. Deal with each cause individually
D. Conduct a relationship without regard to rank

Answer 21

A. Be emotionally well-adjusted

Question 22

An individual who finds an important goal in life is obstructed will usually have one of several reactions: to go around it, attack it head on, remove it, or

A. Ignore it
B. Accept defeat
C. Deny it ever existed
D. Pretend it was achieved

Answer 22

B. Accept defeat

Question 23

When frustrations are experienced and the involved individuals are unable to adapt, they will usually become

A. Bored and apathetic to everything
B. Irritable, inflexible, and emotional
C. Hostile and strike out to hurt others
D. Fanatical in their attempts to succeed

Answer 23

B. Irritable, inflexible, and emotional

Question 24

To be more effective, a supervisor should attempt to examine factors which contribute to frustration and, in order to recognize them when they are present, should

A. Know and understand the employee’s background
B. Be emotionally adjusted himself
C. Be patient and understanding
D. Isolate the more common symptoms

Answer 24

D. Isolate the more common symptoms

Question 25

Most frequently the person who experiences the greater achievement in dealing with the frustrations of life is one who is

A. Relatively stable and emotionally mature
B. Open-minded and devoid of bias
C. Able to relate to others in a positive way
D. Aware of relationships and works to improve them

Answer 25

A. Relatively stable and emotionally mature

Question 26

A supervisor who deals with people soon realizes that things cause less frustration than people, primarily because

A. Things are basic to life’s existence
B. People relate to things as things relate to people
C. Understanding and cooperation are not expected from things
D. Frustration exists only in the human mind

Answer 26

C. Understanding and cooperation are not expected from things

Question 27

Common forms of reactions to frustration often encountered by the supervisor on the job cannot be prevented primarily because

A. Frustration does not really exist
B. Of their spontaneity
C. Of its abstract nature
D. The result is not worth the effort

Answer 27

B. Of their spontaneity

Question 28

People cannot remain static for long, therefore they have a tendency to meet frustration with

A. Apathy
B. Aggression
C. Indifference
D. Understanding

Answer 28

B. Aggression

Question 29

There are instances where individuals will escape from situations that are frustrating by imagining they have accomplished that particular goal. This action is harmful because

A. What is and is not important in life becomes ambiguous
B. It carries over from his work experience to his personal life
C. Achievement is not gained, while satisfaction may have been provided
D. Rationalization for failure becomes normal and achievement is then rarely achieved

Answer 29

C. Achievement is not gained, while satisfaction may have been provided

Question 30

When an employee assigns blame to some external object rather than to him/herself, he/she is engaging in

A. Projection
B. Regression
C. Escape
D. Aggression

Answer 30

A. Projection

Question 31

The most common reaction to failure is

A. Apathy
B. Fear
C. Hate
D. Rationalization

Answer 31

D. Rationalization

Question 32

Rationalization for failure is most harmful when

A. The individual states he can do a job and you realize he cannot
B. It causes an individual to refuse to assume personal responsibility for anything
C. An employee feels he has accomplished what was actually intended and he has not
D. There is no logic to the employee’s explanation for his failure

Answer 32

B. It causes an individual to refuse to assume personal responsibility for anything

Question 33

Officer Smith lacks confidence in himself and now feels that the goal of making sergeant he set for himself several years ago will not be achieved. He has failed one test and doesn’t feel ready for the upcoming one. Smith begins to blame his children and wife for insufficient time to study and his sergeant for always keeping him so busy that he was dead tired when he finished work. The greatest problem with Officer Smith’s rationalization is

A. His failure to realize that not everyone can be a sergeant; some individuals make better patrolmen
B. His family is probably not aware they are not allowing him sufficient time to study
C. It prevents him from facing the problem realistically and correcting the real causes for his feelings
D. Failing to realize it is a sergeant’s job to keep his men busy working

Answer 33

C. It prevents him from facing the problem realistically and correcting the real causes for his feelings

Question 34

A retired police officer tells a new rookie, “You don’t get into trouble for what you don’t do but for what you do.” This advice would indicate the retired officer most likely had been

A. A nonperformer
B. Unhappy with his job
C. Active and aggressive
D. A supervisor

Answer 34

A. A nonperformer

Question 35

A police sergeant refuses to confront a subordinate who is a continual problem and makes the statement, “There is nothing you can do with a guy like that.” Such a statement indicates

A. A truth we often fail to face
B. That frustration exists with both individuals
C. A rationalization of his failure
D. That an unhealthy environment exists

Answer 35

C. A rationalization of his failure

Question 36

After being assigned to a traffic post, Officer Smith becomes gloomy and depressed. Finally, he goes to Sergeant Brown and, half in tears, asks to be assigned elsewhere. Relenting, Sergeant Brown assigns him to the motor squad and puts someone else in his place. It would be likely for Smith, should he become unhappy with another assignment, to

A. Suppress his feelings, at least temporarily
B. Request a change, but with a different supervisor
C. Repeat the same tactics that proved successful
D. Terminate his employment with the police department

Answer 36

C. Repeat the same tactics that proved successful

Question 37

The best example of a police officer who has developed what is termed a “fixation” is

A. The forming of a dislike for a peer or superior officer and, regardless of how hard he tries, the officer cannot change his position
B. An officer who continues to direct traffic in the same way even after he has been criticized by his superior and seemingly cannot change
C. An officer who dislikes himself for a reason tha, if analyzed, would prove to be insignificant
D. An officer who performs his assignments in such a way as to be completely predictable

Answer 37

B. An officer who continues to direct traffic in the same way even after he has been criticized by his superior and seemingly cannot change

Question 38

Probably the best means of preventing frustration emanating from the work environment is

A. Keeping problems and frustrations in the open
B. Discovery and eradication of the casual factors
C. To make group goals known and attainable
D. Listen to complaints and be available for assistance

Answer 38

B. Discovery and eradication of the casual factors

Question 39

Where an employee works is a fertile source of frustration because it restricts his freedom of action and, at the same time

A. Allows him too much freedom
B. Fails to understand his problems
C. Relegates him to that position permanently
D. Makes positive demands of him

Answer 39

D. Makes positive demands of him

Question 40

A supervisor can reduce possible frustration among his subordinates mostly by

A. Listening more than he talks
B. Effective job placement
C. Understanding human nature
D. Allowing full self-expression

Answer 40

B. Effective job placement

Question 41

Individuals are more likely to follow advice given them by their supervisor if

A. His advice has helped others
B. It is simple and basic
C. They like the supervisor
D. They are in the proper environment

Answer 41

A. His advice has helped others

Question 42

One effective way a supervisor can relieve a subordinate of some of his frustrations when he has been subjected to the castigations of an errant motorist who has received a summons is to

A. Explain the functions of police officers
B. Indicate all police are subject to the same abuse
C. Have him put himself in the motorist’s place
D. Ride with the officer and reassure him of his value

Answer 42

C. Have him put himself in the motorist’s place

Question 43

Sensitivity to frustration is greater during

A. Night tours of duty
B. Periods of inactivity
C. The decision-making process
D. Fatigue or ill health

Answer 43

D. Fatigue or ill health

Question 44

An individual is prompted to take action to achieve a particualar goal, whether conscious or unconscious, by which one of the following?

A. Frustration
B. A motive
C. Aggression
D. Self-expression

Answer 44

B. A motive