This dissertation is dedicated to the theoretical and empirical study of the psychophysiological foundations of professional selection in law enforcement agencies. The aim is to improve the conceptual and methodological principles of professional psychophysiological selection in the National Police of Ukraine. It also seeks to develop psychophysiological selection criteria for police units operating on water bodies and in aviation units, to revise the professionally significant psychophysiological qualities and methods of their assessment within the framework of the professional psychophysiological selection of candidates for special police units and units of special assignment; criminal police
(including operational service units), pre-trial investigation bodies, security police (excluding those serving outdoors); patrol police and security police units
serving outdoors, and drivers of official vehicles, as well as to modernize the program-hardware complex used for conducting professional psychophysiological selection of police officers.
The dissertation further develops facilitative concepts regarding professional psychophysiological selection in contemporary legal psychology. The research was conducted from 2019 to 2023 and included theoretical, diagnostic, and summarizing stages. This approach allowed for the establishment of technological boundaries and the provision of recommendations on the procedure for conducting psychophysiological examinations of candidates for police service and
active police officers.
In the first chapter of the dissertation, the results of the theoretical study of the professional psychophysiological selection of police officers are presented. Special attention is paid to professional psychophysiological selection, which is an integral part of the candidate selection process. This selection aims to identify individuals who are most suitable for specific professional activities based on their individual qualities and capabilities. It considers both psychological and physiological aspects, ensuring the objectivity of candidate selection, facilitating effective personnel formation, and ensuring high quality and productivity of work. The semantic field of the implemented study is formulated in the context of categories such as professional selection, candidate selection, professionally significant psychophysiological qualities, psychophysiological characteristics, psychophysiological indicators, psychophysiological examination, professional suitability, and professional unsuitability, among others.
It is emphasized that professional psychophysiological selection is an integral part of the candidate selection process, requiring them to meet specific demands and criteria related to a particular profession or position. Its place among other types of professional selection, such as medical, socio-psychological, and educational selection, is defined. The essence, purpose, tasks, and principles of professional psychophysiological selection are revealed. Additionally, professional psychophysiological selection is presented as a set of psychophysiological examination measures aimed at determining an individual's professionally significant psychophysiological qualities to assess their suitability for police service. It is noted that when considering a person's compliance with certain professional activity requirements, it is appropriate to speak of professional psychophysiological selection rather than recruiting, as the word «selection» semantically derives from the verb «to select», implying «choosing, finding the most appropriate, selecting». In contrast, «recruiting» (pick out) derives from the action «to take away», implying «deprivation of something». It is also noted that «recruiting» (pick out) is an example of calquing from the Russian language, which has entered the Ukrainian language and become a commonly accepted term.
The departmental healthcare institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on the basis of which professional selection is conducted by medical (military-medical) commissions, operate under licenses obtained from the Ministry of Health and in accordance with its legislative norms. Specifically, Order № 263/121 of the State Committee of Ukraine for Labor Safety Supervision of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, dated September 23, 1994, 2On Approval of the List of Works Requiring Professional Selection» (registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on January 25, 1995, under № 18/554), serves as the basis for revising the terminology for its alignment. Professional selection, compared to professional selection, encompasses a broader spectrum of psychophysiological and individual characteristics of candidates, allowing for better consideration of the potential and needs of employees, thereby facilitating their effective realization in the chosen profession.
