From Language to Safety. Hindsight bias in media narratives after the 2014 Genoa floods

La sera del 9 ottobre 2014 Genova è stata colpita da un evento alluvionale di enorme portata. Malgrado i modelli previsionali avessero prospettato un miglioramento delle condizioni meteorologiche a partire dal pomeriggio, in serata la situazione si è aggravata rapidamente e, nel giro di meno di un’ora, il torrente Bisagno è esondato interessando la zona di Brignole e la Foce. Oltre ai danni ingenti, una persona ha perso la vita. Grazie alla collaborazione con l’Ufficio stampa del Dipartimento di Protezione Civile – Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, è stata condotta un’analisi della rassegna stampa su tutte le trasmissioni televisive a livello locale e nazionale (telegiornali e talk show) che trattassero il tema dell’alluvione di Genova nel periodo fra il 10 e il 31 ottobre 2014 (si tratta di circa 500 servizi televisivi). Lo scopo è la ricerca nelle narrazioni dei mezzi di comunicazione di distorsioni cognitive mediate dal linguaggio, ossia fattori che compromettono una corretta comprensione dell’evento da parte dei cittadini. Il problema, in tal caso, non è solo legato alla cattiva informazione, bensì all’impossibilità di capire la complessità dei fattori in gioco. Questo porta la popolazione a sviluppare credenze e atteggiamenti sbagliati, semplicistici, che possono avere effetti deleteri sia per quanto riguarda gli indirizzi delle future decisioni delle istituzioni, sia per la percezione dei rischi durante gli eventi critici e i conseguenti comportamenti di autoprotezione.

Bracco F., Modafferi C., Ferraris L. (2015). From Language to Safety. Hindsight bias in media narratives after the 2014 Genoa floods. In proceedings of the XII annual conference of the Italian Association of Cognitive Sciences (AISC), Genova, 10-12 dicembre 2015. PDF

La simulazione ad alta fedeltà nelle emergenze ostetriche: prime analisi sull’efficacia di un progetto formativo sulla stimolazione delle competenze tecniche e non tecniche.


Background: 
In anni recenti, la formazione per la gestione dell’emergenza in ambito sanitario ha sempre più fatto ricorso alla simulazione ad alta fedeltà. 
Lo sviluppo delle tecnologie di simulazione ha permesso di raggiungere elevati livelli di realismo, affidabilità, flessibilità e versatilità degli strumenti impiegati negli scenari. 
Di particolare interesse, oltre al realismo della situazione da gestire, è la fase del debriefing post-scenario in cui i partecipanti hanno modo di riflettere sulle proprie competenze tecniche e non tecniche e su come il team ha affrontato la criticità.
Obiettivi
: Valutare l’integrazione tra esperienza operativa di gestione di situazioni critiche e riflessione sulle azioni messe in atto al fine di sviluppare tecniche e protocolli di intervento e rendere più efficace il coordinamento del team in situazioni di emergenza.
Metodi
: Realizzazione di un corso di formazione centrato sulla simulazione in emergenza materno-fetale, rivolto a 288 operatori di varie categorie professionali operanti in area materno-infantile (anestesisti, neonatologi, pediatri, ginecologi, ostetriche, infermieri e tirocinanti).
A ciascun partecipante è stato somministrato un questionario volto ad indagare l’efficacia e l’innovatività del metodo formativo, l’esigenza di confronto tra i partecipanti e la soddisfazione rispetto al corso.
Risultati
: Dal questionario è emerso che gli aspetti più interessanti del progetto sono stati la possibilità di partecipare alla simulazione e la possibilità di riflettere sulle dinamiche di gruppo, potendosi confrontare sugli aspetti operativi e sui vissuti psicologici collegati. 
La simulazione è stata apprezzata poiché ha permesso di ricreare le dinamiche presenti nell’operatività quotidiana, verificando la conoscenza degli aspetti tecnici, e di riflettere sul proprio ruolo nell’equipe, sulla sperimentazione di modalità alternative di lavoro di gruppo e sull’adozione di stili di comunicazione più efficaci. 
La fase di debriefing è stata particolarmente apprezzata, perché ha consentito una riflessione ordinata e coerente sulle dinamiche operative e gruppali, permettendo di condividere priorità, linee di coordinamento e scelte contestuali. Per i partecipanti il debriefing dovrebbe essere uno strumento da usare quotidianamente nelle proprie sedi operative, perché valorizza le reciproche risorse, favorisce la meta-riflessione, consente di parlare degli errori in modo nuovo e non giudicante, oltre che permettere di soffermarsi su aspetti del lavoro generalmente trascurati. 
La soddisfazione dei partecipanti è stata molto elevata. 
Il corso è stato apprezzato soprattutto per l’innovatività dei metodi formativi e la competenza dei conduttori.
Conclusioni
: I risultati sono incoraggianti e confermano il valore di questa nuova metodologia formativa, che permette un approccio complesso a problemi complessi, come la gestione di situazioni critiche. 
In particolare, l’esperienza diretta e la riflessione non giudicante sulle pratiche consentono di valorizzare i contenuti teorici e portano a un più solido apprendimento, non solo delle prassi operative, ma anche e soprattutto degli aspetti comunicativi e relazionali. Questi aspetti permettono di trasformare il gruppo in una squadra, con ruoli chiari e condivisi e dinamiche fluide ed efficaci, veri ingredienti per la gestione delle criticità in ambiente ostetrico.

Frigo, M.G., Dato A., Grattarola, C., Cordone, M., Maltoni A., Monichino, S., Amidani, A., Brogioni, F., Masini, M., Bracco, F., De Tonetti, G., & Celleno, D. (2015). La simulazione ad alta fedeltà nelle emergenze ostetriche: prime analisi sull’efficacia di un progetto formativo sulla stimolazione delle competenze tecniche e non tecniche. Congresso SIAARTI 2015. PDF

Personality traits moderate the effect of workload sources on perceived workload in flying column police officers.

Abstract: Previous research has suggested that personality traits of the Five Factor Model play a role in worker’s response to workload. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of personality traits of first responders with their perceived workload in real-life tasks. A flying column of 269 police officers completed a measure of subjective workload (NASA-Task Load Index) after intervention tasks in a major public event. Officers’ scores on a measure of Five Factor Model personality traits were obtained from archival data. Linear Mixed Modeling was used to test the direct and interaction effects of personality traits on workload scores once controlling for background variables, task type and workload source (mental, temporal and physical demand of the task, perceived effort, dissatisfaction for the performance and frustration due to the task). All personality traits except extraversion significantly interacted at least with one workload source. Perceived workload in flying column police officers appears to be the result of their personality characteristics interacting with the workload source. The implications of these results for the development of support measures aimed at reducing the impact of workload in this category of workers are discussed.

Chiorri, C., Garbarino, S., Bracco, F., & Magnavita, N. (2015). Personality traits moderate the effect of  workload sources on perceived workload in flying column police officers. Frontiers in Psychology – Organizational Psychology, 6. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01835.

Personality moderates the effect of task on perceived frustration in special force police officers

Previous research has shown that neuroticism is related to perceived frustration and this study tested whether personality profiles were associated with subjective workload in a set of tasks that special force police officers (SFPO) usually carry out. Participants were a flying column (n=290, mean age 35±7 years, mean experience 14±8 years) who completed a battery of psychological scales including measures of personality, depression, state anxiety, burn-out and wSork-related stress for routine psychophysical assessment and the NASA-TLX after four tasks: Normal Training, Redman Training, Stand-By and Intervention at a political demonstration. Two personality profiles were found through cluster analysis on scale scores: Resilient and Undercontrolled. The latter officers were characterized by higher levels of neuroticism, depression, anxiety, professional exhaustion, loss of empathy and work-related stress. After adjusting for differences in the two groups in socio-demographical and work-related covariates, linear mixed modeling revealed a significant TLX scale by profile interaction effect. Post-hoc tests showed that Undercontrolled officers reported higher levels of Frustration than Resilient ones. Given the likely association of frustration with unnecessary violence, the results of this study support the use of personality assessment in the selection SFPOs to be employed in delicate tasks such as riot control.

Chiorri, C., Garbarino, S., Bracco, F., Magnavita, N., & Piccinno, T. (2012). Personality moderates the effect of task on perceived frustration in special force police officers. Poster presented at the 14th International Academy of Investigative Psychology Conference,  London (UK), 5-7 december. PDF

Promuovere la sicurezza. La gestione dei rischi nelle organizzazioni complesse.

Abstract: Gli odierni sistemi sociotecnici sono caratterizzati da profonde e talvolta ignote connessioni tra elemento umano, tecnologia e organizzazione. Si tratta di organismi complessi, e complessi sono anche gli incidenti che possono riguardarli. Siamo stati molto abili nel progettare sistemi che però non riusciamo a comprendere e gestire in modo sicuro. Rischiamo di adottare modelli e strumenti di gestione dei rischi ormai antiquati, non più adatti alla realtà attuale. Servono quindi nuovi occhiali per guardare alla sicurezza. Occorre un linguaggio innovativo, centrato sul lavoratore e sul lavoro per come viene vissuto ed effettivamente svolto, condotto da persone che cercano di dare un senso a ciò che fanno, raccogliendo informazioni sparse in un ambiente dinamico, fatto di vincoli e incertezze. Il libro vuole fornire una proposta operativa per favorire questo cambiamento, interpretando la sicurezza come un processo e non come uno stato. La sicurezza di un sistema non si ottiene come risultato di una procedura, ma si promuove conoscendo le persone che vi lavorano, comprendendo come interagiscono e come ragionano quando sono immerse nella complessità dei loro contesti operativi.

Bracco, F. (2013). Promuovere la sicurezza. La gestione dei rischi nelle organizzazioni complesse. Roma: Carocci.

Personality traits of the Five-Factor Model are associated with work-related stress in special force police officers

Purpose: The police work is particularly stressful. The aim of this work was to clarify whether the personality factors are associated with perceived stress levels or reactivity to environmental stressors in a special body of police.
Methods: The police officers in charge of guaranteeing public order at the L’Aquila G8 meeting were subjected to a control of their levels of work-related stress in anticipation of the event. Personality was assessed by the Italian version of the Five-Factor Model questionnaire, while stress was measured three times (during routine work in January 2009, preparation and imminence of the event, in April and July 2009, respectively) with the demand/control/support model of Karasek and the effort/reward imbalance model of Siegrist. A total of 289 of 294 officers took part in the survey.
Results: Some personality traits of the Five-Factor Model were associated with stress levels and stress reactivity. Neuroticism (low emotional stability) showed the strongest associations with job strain (demand/control ratio) (β = 0.115, p < 0.05) and effort/reward imbalance (β = 0.270, p < 0.001) and was associated with most of the stress variables. High agreeableness was associated with low effort/reward imbalance (β = −0.157, p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Personality factors may mitigate or increase the strain induced by environmental stressors.
Keywords: Big Five personality factors Work-related stress Demand Control Job strain Effort/reward imbalance

Garbarino, S., Chiorri, C., & Magnavita, N. (2013). Personality traits of the Five-Factor Model are associated with work-related stress in special force police officers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 87(3), 295-306. doi: 10.1007/s00420-013-0861-1

Association of work-related stress with mental health problems in a special police force unit

Objectives: Law and order enforcement tasks may expose special force police officers to significant psychosocial risk factors. The aim of this work is to investigate the relationship between job stress and the presence of mental health symptoms while controlling sociodemographical, occupational and personality variables in special force police officers.
Method: At different time points, 292 of 294 members of the ‘VI Reparto Mobile’, a special police force engaged exclusively in the enforcement of law and order, responded to our invitation to complete questionnaires for the assessment of personality traits, work-related stress (using the Demand–Control–Support (DCS) and the Effort–Reward–Imbalance (ERI) models) and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and burnout.
Results: Regression analyses showed that lower levels of support and reward and higher levels of effort and overcommitment were associated with higher levels of mental health symptoms. Psychological screening revealed 21 (7.3%) likely cases of mild depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI≥10). Officers who had experienced a discrepancy between work effort and rewards showed a marked increase in the risk of depression (OR 7.89, 95% CI 2.32 to 26.82) when compared with their counterparts who did not perceive themselves to be in a condition of distress.
Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that work-related stress may play a role in the development of mental health problems in police officers. The prevalence of mental health symptoms in the cohort investigated here was low, but not negligible in the case of depression. Since special forces police officers have to perform sensitive tasks for which a healthy psychological functioning is needed, the results of this study suggest that steps should be taken to prevent distress and improve the mental well-being of these workers.

Garbarino, S., Cuomo, G., Chiorri, C., & Magnavita, N. (2013).  Association of work-related stress with mental health problems in a special police force unit. BMJ Open. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002791

Personality profiles Force Police Officers

Abstract: The present study was aimed at investigating whether different personality profiles could be found among Italian police Special Force (SF) officers. Our hypothesis was that different personality profiles would be found, and that they would differ with respect to psychological and organizational functioning. This conjecture was tested on anonymously collected Big Five scores of all members of a ‘Reparto Mobile’ unit (n = 289) by means of a Two-Step cluster analysis. Two distinct personality profiles were found: two-thirds of participants showed a personality profile that was quite similar to the general population, with the exception of a higher self-reported emotional stability and self-deceptive enhancement, while the remaining third showed higher levels of any personality domain than both the other cluster and the general population. These officers also endorsed lower scores in measures of depression, anxiety, professional exhaustion, loss of empathy, and higher scores in a measure of organizational resilience, suggesting that they may represent the most suitable personnel for the delicate tasks their unit usually has to accomplish. In addition, self-deceptive enhancement emerged as a likely personality trait of police SF officers.

Keywords: Police Big Five Special forces Personality profiles Psychological functioning

Garbarino, S., Chiorri, C., Magnavita, N., Piattino, S. & Cuomo, G. (2012). Personality profiles Force Police Officers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 27(2), 99-110. doi: 10.1007/s11896-011-9099-6.

Evaluation of operational stress in riot and crowd control police units: a global challenge for prevention and management of police task-related stress

Abstract: The aim of the current study was to evaluate stress levels during routine activities and during a major political event by members of the VI Reparto Mobile, an Italian specialized police unit exclusively deployed for riot and crowd control, which had undergone serious stress and liability consequences after the 2001 G8-Summit in Genoa. The investigation protocol consisted of a psychological assessment at the beginning of the study, evaluation of task-related stress with the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and the Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire (ERI) at two time periods, and evaluation of behavioral and clinical outcomes as measured by short-term sickness absences (STSA) throughout the duration of the study. The sample consisted of 290 policemen, representing a 98.6 % participation rate. Results found that unit officers were more emotionally stable, conscientious and open to experiences than the general male population and career soldiers. JCQ and ERI decreased significantly when compared with daily and special event activities (p < 0.001). Fifty-one percent of officers took STSA during three months of routine deployment, whereas only 35.5 % took it during the 2009 G8-Summit. These results suggest that members of the specialized unit had good capacity to withstand stress. Chronic routine work might be significantly more stressful for these kinds of officers than assignment to a special high-risk political event when adequate training, positive psychosocial support and appropriate organization of the event are provided.

Keywords: Operational stress Law enforcement Riot and crowd control Sickness absence

Garbarino, S., Magnavita, N., Chiorri, C., Brisinda, D., Cuomo, G., Venuti, A., & Fenici, R. (2012). Evaluation  of operational stress in riot and crowd control police units: a global challenge for prevention and management of police task-related stress. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 27(2), 111-122. doi: 10.1007/s11896-012-9104-8.

Resilience engineering in Emergency Room operations: A theoretical framework

System resilience implies practitioners’ capacity to cope with unexpected events, i.e. cognitive resilience. To address it, we outline a framework based on the Skill-Rule-Knowledge model grounding it in the operators’ sensitivity to the variety that normally occurs in complex systems activities. This variety can contain hidden information enabling the organization to be proactive and to manage unexpected events. Each situation can be described with a SRK profile, according to the kind of cognitive processes necessary to control it. Operators’ reliability can therefore be analyzed by evaluating the match between their cognitive SRK profile and that demanded by the current situation. System resilience is ensured by the capacity of operators to: (i) choose the most suitable cognitive level; (ii) freely move along these levels according to the situation; (iii) be mindful towards variety; (iv) transfer their personal mindfulness into group dynamic adaptation. The outcome of these behaviors is a balance of mindfulness (constant attention to anomalous signals) and dynamic adaptation (organizational adjustment of existing rules according to the new information). This continuous equilibrium between chaos and order is the strategy followed by adaptive complex systems in order to evolve and can be successfully applied to high risk organizations to enhance the emergence of resilient behaviors.

Bracco, F., Gianatti, R., & Pisano, L. (2008). Resilience engineering in Emergency Room operations: A theoretical framework. Third Symposium in Resilience Engineering, Antibes, October 2008. Link