FOUND IN TRANSLATION: HOW A PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER CAN PRIME POLICE OFFICERS’ EMOTIONS THROUGH VOICE INFLECTION

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dc.contributor.advisorWollman, Lauren F.
dc.contributor.advisorMcGuire, Mollie R.
dc.contributor.authorFord, April A.
dc.contributor.departmentNational Security Affairs (CHDS)
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-01T14:26:23Z
dc.date.available2025-05-01T14:26:23Z
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.description.abstractPublic safety dispatchers serve as the critical link between emergency callers and law enforcement. However, their voice prosody, including tone, pitch, and speech rate, may unconsciously prime officers’ emotions. This study examines how a dispatcher’s vocal delivery impacts an officer’s stress response, perceived urgency, and situational awareness during high-priority calls. Findings suggest a heightened voice inflection can escalate officer stress and urgency, while a monotone voice may downplay threat perception and alter tactical response. Despite the significance of these findings, dispatcher training often lacks guidance on prosodic control, focusing instead on information accuracy and word choice. Dispatchers do not just relay facts; they are emotional regulators and the first layer of stability in moments of crisis. This thesis recommends integrating prosody-focused training into national dispatcher standards to enhance communication effectiveness with intentional vocal modulation as a communication tool. Future research should explore cross-disciplinary studies on voice modulation in crisis communication, AI-supported vocal analysis tools, and further investigate prosody-focused training results. By acknowledging the emotional and operational influence of dispatcher communication, we can improve response, reduce unnecessary escalation, and support the well-being of public safety professionals.en_US
dc.description.distributionstatementDistribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.en_US
dc.description.serviceCivilian, Springfield-Greene County 911en_US
dc.identifier.curriculumcode692, Homeland Defense and Security (Hybrid)
dc.identifier.thesisid40013
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10945/73650
dc.publisherMonterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is reserved by the copyright owner.en_US
dc.subject.authortoneen_US
dc.subject.authorspeech patternsen_US
dc.subject.authororal expressionen_US
dc.subject.authorrate of speechen_US
dc.subject.authordispatchingen_US
dc.subject.authorprimeden_US
dc.subject.authorspeech emotionen_US
dc.subject.authorinflectionen_US
dc.subject.authorcommunicationen_US
dc.subject.authorpublic safetyen_US
dc.subject.authorstressen_US
dc.subject.authoreffective communicationen_US
dc.subject.authormisinformationen_US
dc.subject.authormisinterpreteden_US
dc.subject.authormisleadingen_US
dc.subject.authormental well-beingen_US
dc.subject.authormental healthen_US
dc.subject.authoremployee wellnessen_US
dc.subject.authorthe effect of misinformationen_US
dc.subject.authorpolice shootingsen_US
dc.subject.authordispatcher primingen_US
dc.subject.authorlaw enforcement primingen_US
dc.subject.authordispatcher erroren_US
dc.titleFOUND IN TRANSLATION: HOW A PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER CAN PRIME POLICE OFFICERS’ EMOTIONS THROUGH VOICE INFLECTIONen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dspace.entity.typePublication
etd.thesisdegree.disciplineSecurity Studies (Homeland Security and Defense)en_US
etd.thesisdegree.grantorNaval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
etd.thesisdegree.levelMastersen_US
etd.thesisdegree.nameMaster of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense)en_US
relation.isDepartmentOfPublicatione769687a-13cb-4eed-90f8-88ecc27b5855
relation.isDepartmentOfPublication.latestForDiscoverye769687a-13cb-4eed-90f8-88ecc27b5855
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