An evaluation of law enforcement officers' perception of violence, mindfulness levels, and defense mechanisms in the fight against violence

This thesis study presents a comprehensive analysis of the perceptions of violence, levels of mindfulness, and defense mechanisms used by individuals serving in law enforcement. In the research, the relationships between these three fundamental psychological constructs (perception, mindfulness, and defense) were examined through quantitative data. The population of the study consisted of law enforcement personnel working in the Sinop city center. The sample included a total of 554 law enforcement officers aged 18 and above who voluntarily participated in the study. As data collection tools, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Defense Style Questionnaire, The Intimate Violence Responsibility Scale, and a personal information form were used. According to the correlation analyses obtained in this study, as the level of mindfulness increased, minimizing violence, accepting violence, and blaming the partner decreased. It was determined that as immature (primitive) defense mechanisms increased, negative perceptions of responsibility for violence also increased. No statistically significant relationship was found between the level of mindfulness and defense mechanisms. Developing self-awareness workshops to make defense mechanisms more functional, creating psychoeducational programs aimed at strengthening the perception of responsibility for violence, and integrating mindfulness-based training into in-service practices may be effective and beneficial. This research provides concrete contributions both to the literature and to psychoeducational and policy recommendations to be developed for law enforcement.