Mar 29, 2021
The role of police in America has been under extreme scrutiny over the past year. What does the path for healing look like, and what can accountable policing look like? Dr. Obed Magny believes the answer lies, in part, in emotional intelligence.
“If emotional intelligence has been proven to be effective in the public and private sector, and in just about every industry — in resiliency, stress management, and handling conflicts — why would we not do that today in policing?” Dr. Magny, himself an emotional intelligence trainer and de-escalation expert with 16 years of experience in policing, said.
Far too few resources have historically been devoted to cultivating things like emotional intelligence and cultural awareness in police units, he continued. For all 18,000 police departments in the U.S., most only devote a maximum of four to six hours of training — if that — to emotional intelligence topics in their six-month academies. And the result is hurting not only the people being policed but also the people doing the policing.
“This is where my passion lies,” he said. “We talk about emotional trauma because trauma can be physical, but the mental part of it is just as, if not more, prevalent. And so if we’re going to heal as a nation moving forward — if we’re going to build on trust and legitimacy moving forward — there’s got to be an understanding of the other side.”
Through his work with the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing — the organization he co-founded to help bring science, research, and empathy into the way law enforcement implements the law — he hopes this understanding will be achieved. In this episode of True North Man, Paul and Dr. Magny talk about what it’ll take to innovate police systems for the modern era, for the benefit of all.
What You’ll Learn:
Favorite Quote:
“Emotional intelligence training is one way to mitigate issues and establish trust, legitimacy, and an understanding of different people, different cultures and subcultures, and so on. Because once I see you and I understand you and know who you are, then I can better interact with you and I can have more effective communication with you.”
— Dr. Obed Magny
Connect With Dr. Magny:
The American Society of Evidence-Based Policing
How To Get Involved:
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