Ulf Patrick Risan

• Stenshol, Kristin; Sætrevik, Bjørn; Watkins, Edward R. & Risan, Patrick (2025). Ways of Thinking in a Critical Scenario Simulation: A qualitative study of rumination in a police student sample. Nordic Journal of Studies in Policing (NJSP). 12(1), s. 1–23. doi: 10.18261/njsp.12.1.6. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Critical incident policing challenges the cognitive capacities of police officers. This study examines third-year police students’ reported thinking processes during a critical incident simulation, focusing on rumination, characterised by persistent and repetitive dwelling on thoughts, experiences, or personal states. Thematic analysis of interviews with ten participants concluded on three main themes: “Preparatory thoughts”, “tuning into the situation” and “the aftermath”, each encompassing multiple subthemes. Our analysis suggests that differentiating between rumination’s constructive and unconstructive aspects aids in understanding police students’ thinking processes in this context. For the most part, participants reported engaging in constructive facets of deliberate and concrete rumination before and during the exercise. Post-exercise, their thinking became more evaluative and reflective, often focusing on negatively valenced content. Such thinking could potentially lead to both constructive reflection and unconstructive brooding rumination. We propose that police training could benefit from encouraging deliberate and concrete rumination during and reflective rumination after exercises to enhance cognitive preparedness for critical incidents in later duty.

• Skoglund, Tom Hilding; Risan, Ulf Patrick & Johansen, Rino Bandlitz (2025). Andragogy in a military leadership course. European Journal of Education Studies. 12(3). doi: https:/oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejes/article/view/5866/8493. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The purpose of this study is to explore the suitability of an andragogy-inspired approach to teaching in a newly developed military leadership course for seasoned officers. First, we argue that it is theoretically reasonable to consider andragogy as useful for creating a learning environment suited to officers’ needs. Such an environment may help them navigate the complexities of the military context while employing the trust-based leadership style of mission command. Second, we examined course participants’ learning-environment experiences through a questionnaire that gathered their reflections on six common andragogical learning assumptions. Our thematic analysis indicated that, overall, participants perceived these assumptions as positively influencing their learning process. However, participants’ reflections highlight the importance of course timing, the balance between theory and practice, psychological safety, and motivation in strengthening the andragogical approach in the context of this course. Based on this exploratory study, we conclude that andragogy offers a promising framework for educating seasoned officers in leadership. For more definitive and generalizable conclusions, however, we encourage further empirical research with larger samples and diverse study designs.

• Risan, Patrick; Bjerknes, Ole Thomas & Milne, Rebecca J. (2025). Police interviewers’ interviewing experiences with suspects: the interpersonal process of evidence disclosure. Psychology, Crime and Law. ISSN 1068-316X. doi: 10.1080/1068316X.2025.2484601. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The study aimed at exploring how police interviewers in Norway experience the interpersonal aspects of disclosing potential evidence during suspect interviews. Specifically, we aimed to explore what the participants experienced as required by them on an interpersonal level to carry out an appropriate evidence disclosure process, what challenges that may arise in maintaining rapport, and how these challenges can be handled. Data were collected through four focus group interviews of police investigators (n = 29) and analysed using thematic analysis that resulted in four main themes: (1) Importance of preparation and being confident in the police interviewer role, (2) Being flexible and adaptable as key skills to managing various situations, changes, and unforeseen events, (3) Managing the transition from information-gathering to challenging the suspect’s account, and (4) Exploring the interviewees’ resistance and handling their own reactions. The findings are discussed in relation to current theory and research, with an emphasis on the importance of police interviewers’ ability to adapt to changes in circumstances and suspects behaviours during investigative interviews.

• Risan, Ulf Patrick & Skoglund, Tom Hilding (2024). Changes in Personality and Hardiness over the Course of Police Training. European Journal of Policing Studies. ISSN 2034-760X. doi: 10.5553/EJPS.000020. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Ulf Patrick; Skoglund, Tom Hilding & Milne, Rebecca (2024). The challenges of interviewing suspects displaying disruptive behaviours: An explorative study of police interviewers’ beliefs. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. ISSN 1321-8719. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2024.2404846. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick; Myklebust, Trond; Bjerknes, Ole Thomas & Oxburgh, Gavin (2023). Police interviewers’ experiences of the Tactical Interview Model (TIM): an exploratory study of suspect interviewing in Norway. Psychology, Crime and Law. ISSN 1068-316X. doi: 10.1080/1068316X.2023.2279327. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Skoglund, Tom Hilding; Lie, Anders Lohne; Jakobsen, Einar Kristian & Risan, Patrick (2023). Hardiness and baton performance among police student trainees. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. ISSN 1752-4512. 17. doi: 10.1093/police/paad077. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Stenshol, Kristin; Risan, Patrick; Knudsen, Ståle & Sætrevik, Bjørn (2023). An explorative study of Police student’s decision-making in a critical incident scenario simulation. Police Practice & Research. ISSN 1561-4263. 25(4). doi: 10.1080/15614263.2023.2268789. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Sound use-of-force decisions are essential for police performance in critical incidents. In this exploratory study we seek to better understand the decision-making processes that are involved. Eighty-six third-year police students performed a use-of-force training exercise in an audio-visual, critical scenario simulation. Participants answered debriefing interviews about their subjective decision processes. Qualitative content analyses of the interviews indicated that the decision-making was based on visual, dynamic, and central information, more than on auditory, static, and peripheral information. Thoughts about the situation as well as thoughts about themselves were reported. Decision strategies were affected by level of expertise. Most participants made decisions that met safety concerns. The current study emphasizes the advantage of familiarizing students with a variety of operational settings, as well as their personal reactions towards them. It suggests the advantages of simulated training that includes psychological factors alongside more tactical and technical factors, including training in stress-regulation techniques.

• Skoglund, Tom Hilding; Risan, Ulf Patrick & Milne, Rebecca (2022). Personality and hardiness differences between Norwegian police and psychology students. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12877. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Ulf Patrick; Skoglund, Tom Hilding; Sandvik, Asle Makoto & Milne, Rebecca (2022). Personality and hardiness among police students: An evaluative pilot study. Nordic Journal of Studies in Policing (NJSP). 9(1), s. 1–11. doi: 10.18261/njsp.9.1.9. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The purpose of the current pilot study was to evaluate the suitability and usefulness of short-form measures of personality (BFI-20) and hardiness (DRS-15-R) for an upcoming research project. We used a sample of police students (N = 129) to investigate: (1) the rudimentary psychometric properties of the instruments, and (2) the covariation between the obtained scores on these measures. The results showed that hardiness and Emotional stability had a large covariation and that Emotional stability was a strong predictor of the total hardiness score. We discuss the results in relation to previous research and conclude that useful knowledge of individual differences among police students can be obtained with these measures.

• Risan, Patrick; Milne, Rebecca & Binder, Per-Einar (2020). Trauma narratives: recommendations for investigative interviewing. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. ISSN 1321-8719. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2020.1742237. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick; Binder, Per-Einar & Milne, Rebecca Jane (2017). Establishing and maintaining rapport in investigative interviews of traumatized victims: A qualitative study. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. ISSN 1752-4512. doi: 10.1093/police/pax031. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The aim of the study was to explore the factors considered important and useful in facilitating safety and building rapport in police investigative interviews with traumatized interviewees. We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews of police investigators involved in investigative interviewing of victims after the Utøya massacre on 22 July 2011 in Norway. Using a thematic analysis based on a reflexive hermeneutic-phenomenological epistemology, four themes emerged: (i) preparation through planning, reflection, and openness: balancing knowing and being receptive; (ii) using first impressions, casual conversation, and communicating expectations to make the interviewee comfortable; (iii) getting closer to the experience of the interviewee through engagement, adaptation, and understanding; and (iv) handling negative feelings and being receptive in the interview relationship. We discuss the findings in relation to current theory and research on investigative interviewing and highlight the importance of working on an emotional level to facilitate rapport when interviewing traumatized interviewees.

• Risan, Patrick; Binder, Per-Einar & Milne, Rebecca (2016). Emotional intelligence in police interviews: approach, training and the usefulness of the concept. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice. ISSN 1522-8932. 16(5), s. 410–424. doi: 10.1080/15228932.2016.1234143. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick; Binder, Per-Einar & Milne, Rebecca (2016). Regulating and coping with distress during police interviews of traumatized victims. Psychological Trauma. ISSN 1942-9681. 8(6), s. 736–744. doi: 10.1037/tra0000119. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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• Jakobsen, Kristina Kepinska & Risan, Patrick (2024). Etikk i etterforskning. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205605602. 336 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Ulf Patrick & Skoglund, Tom Hilding (2019). Psykologi i operativ tjeneste (2.utgave). Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205522619. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick & Skoglund, Tom Hilding (2013). Psykologi i operativ tjeneste : stress og psykiske lidelser. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205454965. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Hvordan håndterer du stress i en operativ yrkeshverdag? Hvordan møter du andre som opplever stress og krise? Hva må du vite om psykiske lidelser for å hjelpe andre mennesker? Dette er noen av svarene forfatterne av boken forsøker å gi et svar på. I boken skal studentene lære om de grunnleggende mekanismene bak menneskelige stressreaksjoner. Forfatterne gir en grunnleggende beskrivelse av hvordan stress kan mestres i operativt arbeid. I tillegg til dette gir boken en innføring i psykiske lidelser. - Målet med boken er at den skal være en plattform for undervisningen mellom teori og praksis, forteller Risan. Boken er særlig rettet mot politistudenter i deres første utdanningsår, men kan også være av interesse for dem som utdanner seg til eller er i operative yrker.

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• Skoglund, Tom Hilding & Risan, Ulf Patrick (2025). Personality development among police students? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick & Madsen, Kent (2019). Politiavhør av traumatiserte vitner: Et mellommenneskelig perspektiv. I Olsvik, Egil Hove & Risan, Patrick (Red.), Etterforskning under lupen. Politihøgskolen. ISSN 9788278081495. s. 127–155. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Kapittelbidrag: Frode Helmich Pedersen • Nina Sunde • Eivind Kolflaath Patrick Risan • Kent Madsen • Espen Ingebrigtsen • Egil H. Olsvik

• Risan, Patrick (2019). Investigative interviewing of traumatized interviewees. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick (2018). The Utøya Investigative Interviews. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vidnes, Aksel Kjær & Risan, Patrick (2016). Empati på jobb. [Journal]. Forskerforum. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick (2016). Politiavhør av traumatiserte personer: Et klinisk perspektiv. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick (2016). Regulating and coping with distress during police interviews of traumatized victims. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Risan, Patrick (2014). On rapport in investigative interviewing. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Olsvik, Egil Hove & Risan, Patrick (2019). Etterforskning under lupen. Politihøgskolen. ISSN 9788278081495. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Kapittelbidrag: Frode Helmich Pedersen • Nina Sunde • Eivind Kolflaath Patrick Risan • Kent Madsen • Espen Ingebrigtsen • Egil H. Olsvik

• Risan, Patrick; Binder, Per-Einar & Milne, Becky (2017). Accommodating trauma in police interviews. An exploration of rapport in investigative interviews of traumatized victims. Universitetet i Bergen. ISSN 9788230839782. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In the investigation of a criminal offense, the investigative interview is one of the most important methods used by the police. In interviews, the police investigator may encounter suspects, witnesses or victims who experience a wide range of emotional states: states that may get in the way of rapport and the interviewee providing an optimal account. How can a police interviewer approach an interviewee in order to obtain rapport and attend to his or her psychological needs? The aim of this thesis was to explore the psychological processes underpinning rapport in police interviews of traumatized victims. In three qualitative studies, we examined the processes of developing and maintaining rapport with adult traumatized individuals with an emphasis on how police investigators accommodate the emotional state of interviewees. The studies reported in Papers 1 and 2 were based on interviews of police investigators responsible for interviewing victims after the Utøya massacre on 22 July 2011 in Norway. We employed an explorative-reflexive approach to these research interviews and used a thematic analysis based on a hermeneutic phenomenological epistemology to examine the data. Paper 1 explored factors considered important and useful for facilitating safety, and for developing and maintaining rapport with traumatized interviewees. The findings showed the importance of the investigator's preparatory efforts through planning and finding an approach, in addition to endeavoring to achieve openness for the interviewee and reflecting on potential emotional reactions that could emerge. The findings highlight the importance of different relational and communicative approaches to enhance rapport, such as a strategic use of first impressions and casual conversation, previewing the interview process, showing understanding, and adapting to the expressions of the interviewee. One of the main findings presented in Paper 1 was the investigators' descriptions of the significance of managing the interviewee's negative emotions to facilitate safety and thus, rapport. This was the basis for Paper 2, which examined useful approaches to regulating and coping with distress in order to maintain rapport and promote interviewees' psychological well-being. The findings showed the importance of the investigator being attentive to the interviewees' nonverbal communication and his or her capacity to cope with distress before showing acceptance and the ability to handle negative feelings experienced in the interview. To regulate distress, the investigator should respond to the interviewees' emotional needs, help them to feel safe, and promote a positive atmosphere. The findings of Studies 1 and 2 describe different aspects of how police interviewers approach, accommodate, and respond to the state of the interviewee to build rapport and further psychological well-being. To achieve a further understanding of the emotional processes of police interviews, Paper 3 theoretically examined the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) in investigative interviewing and how EI can be implemented in the training of police interviewers. EI in the context of investigative interviewing was defined, with an emphasis on empathy and emotion regulation. We presented four key considerations for training police interviewers in handling emotions (self-awareness, attention training, communication skills, and emotion regulation) before discussing the usefulness of EI with regard to investigative interviewing. In summary, the findings demonstrate the importance of police interviewers engaging in relational and emotional processes when interviewing traumatized interviewees. This thesis contributes to the understanding of the underlying psychological processes that facilitate rapport and promote the well-being of traumatized interviewees in police interviews.

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