Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise
Published on: March 29, 2019
The Moral Injury of Ineffective Police Leadership: A Perspective
Bobbi Simmons-Beauchamp1, Hillary Sharpe1
1Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB, Canada.
Abstract:
Research suggests that Canadian police officers are exposed to trauma at a greater frequency than the general population. This, combined with other operational stressors, such as risk of physical injury, high consequence of error, and strained resources, can leave officers less resilient to organizational stressors. In my experience, a significant and impactful organizational stressor is ineffective leadership, which include leaders who are non-supportive, inconsistent, egocentric, and morally ambiguous. Ineffective leadership in the context of paramilitary police culture has been recognized as psychologically distressing. Further, moral injury may result when leadership fails to meet officers' needs, expectations, and values. Ineffective leadership and resulting moral injuries are an understudied area in the literature. This review will help provide a comprehensive context of policing and the impact of ineffective leadership on police mental health.
Related Concept Videos
Obedience
Bystander Effect
Milgram's Obedience to Authority
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development
Pre-Conventional Level
At the pre-conventional level, morality is primarily driven by personal...
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:

