Critical Incidents: Factors that impact engagement.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Engagement In Critical Incidents: An Exploration Of Individual Characteristics And Background Factors.
IRAS ID
247522
Contact name
Kimberley McNeill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 25 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
For the purpose of this research, ‘critical incidents’ include hostage taking, barricades and protests. Existing literature has identified a need for empirical assistance that can support negotiators, such as police decision makers, in their aim to peacefully resolve such complex and volatile situations (Michaud, St Yves & Guay, 2008). A good starting point would be greater understanding of the background factors and characteristics of individuals who engage in critical incidents.
The current study will explore the more stable internal characteristics perpetrators within a forensic psychiatric and prison population may bring to the critical incident. The primary aim of the research is to identify whether personality traits and characteristics can predict engagement in critical incidents. Unhelpful personality traits (e.g. psychopathic traits), problem solving ability, strengths, protective factors and resilience will also be explored.
Questionnaire data will be collected from at least 50 male participants residing within NHS high and medium secure forensic services, and within two private prisons. All participants who are considered to have capacity to consent, sufficient understanding of the English language and understanding of the study will be eligible to engage in the study. Comparisons will be made between those who have perpetrated critical incidents and those who have not. Consenting participants will complete six measures taking approximately 45 minutes. A file trawl will also be conducted and documented background information over a six month period about personality traits (helpful and unhelpful), problem solving skills, levels of resilience and reported strengths will be collated and coded. The research is funded by the University of Central Lancashire and data collection will be conducted for 12 months from the point of ethical approval.Summary of Results
Overview: This study investigated why some individuals engage in critical incidents, such as hostage-taking, barricades or protests, while others do not. It examines how stable personality traits and protective factors (e.g., resilience and problem-solving skills) influence such behaviours. The research aimed to identify traits that may increase the likelihood of engagement in critical incidents and factors that might protect individuals from participating in them.Methodology:
- Participants were 54 men from high- and medium-security forensic psychiatric settings.
- They completed questionnaires on personality, resilience, problem-solving, and protective factors.
- Participants with and without a history of critical incidents were included for comparison.Ethics and Safety:
- The study received NHS and university ethical approval.
- Participation was voluntary, with safeguards in place to ensure well-being and confidentiality.Key Findings:
1. Personality Traits:
- Traits like extraversion (e.g., being sociable, spontaneous) and dissocial tendencies (e.g., manipulativeness, lack of empathy) were linked to higher likelihoods of engaging in critical incidents.
- Traits like neuroticism (emotional instability) and problem-solving styles (e.g., impulsivity) did not significantly predict engagement.
2. Protective Factors:
- Internal (e.g., self-control) and external (e.g., social support) protective factors strongly predicted non-engagement in critical incidents, accounting for over 80% of the variance in behaviour.
- Resilience alone did not predict engagement or non-engagement, possibly due to difficulties in measuring it in forensic settings.Implications:
- The findings highlight the importance of both personality traits and environmental factors in understanding critical incidents.
- Protective factors, such as strong social connections and self-control, play a critical role in supporting the prevention of critical incident engagement.
- These results can inform person-centred approaches to managing and preventing critical incidents in forensic settings.Conclusion: This research emphasises that critical incidents result from a complex interplay of individual traits and socioenvironmental factors. Future work should explore the interaction between these elements and focus on strengths-based, preventive strategies tailored to individuals.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0008
Date of REC Opinion
12 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion