Psychodrama and emotional labour in the police: A mutually beneficial methodology for researchers and participants

Abstract

This study utilises the qualitative methodology of psychodrama to create mutually beneficial research. Psychodrama is a group psychotherapy that uses action to explore participants' experiences and solutions to challenges. We demonstrate that the principles of this method can be used to identify the emotional feeling and display rules of emotional labour in policing. Researchers gained insight into officers’ cognitive processing, identifying how feeling and display rules are communicated and enforced in the police, developing practical, operationally-sound solutions to officer mentalhealth. Participants reported experiencing therapeutic relief and new perspectives on their work as a result.