EFFECT OF MACHIAVELLIANISM ON COMPASSION FATIGUE AMONG POLICE OFFICERS: MODERATING ROLE OF EMPATHY

Abstract

Police officers are generally exposed to violent crimes and traumatic incidents, which affect them adversely.  This study examine the relationship between dark personality trait, Machiavellianism and compassion fatigue among police officers, with moderating role of empathy. The participants of the study were police officers (n=382) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaires and analyzed using regression and moderation analyses. The results of the study indicated significant relationship between Machiavellianism and compassion fatigue. Empathy’s moderating role was also found to be significant, as the significant effect of Machiavellianism on compassion fatigue is buffered at high levels of empathy.  These results point out the critical role of empathy as emotional and psychological resource of resilience in emotional exhaustion among police officers employed in extreme-traumatic environments. Based on Affective event theory and emotional dissonance theory, this study provides theoretical and practical implications for the wellbeing of police officers and reducing the consequences of trauma exposure.