GENDER DIFFERENCES IN POLICE OFFICERS’ MOTIVATION AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

The professional activity of police officers requires a high level of intrinsic motivation, which ensures the effective fulfillment of duties under conditions of increased complexity, risk, and social tension, especially in wartime. Motivation serves as a central factor that determines the degree of engagement, achievement orientation, drive for personal growth, and resilience under professional stress. This article presents the results of an empirical study on the motivational sphere of police officers, taking into account the gender aspect. To assess the motivational profile, the “Motivational Profile of the Personality” method by S. Ritchie and P. Martin was applied, which includes 12 motivational scales and allows for identifying dominant motives. The study involved 271 officers of the National Police of Ukraine (208 men and 63 women) of various ages and professional experience. The analysis of motivational levels and dominant vectors across genders revealed several significant differences. Specifically, female police officers demonstrated higher motivation in areas related to professional growth, creativity, self-realization, and positive perception of organizational conditions. In contrast, male officers showed a more pragmatic approach to work, with a focus on stability and functional outcomes. The empirical findings highlight the multidimensional nature of the motivational structure among police officers of both genders and reveal systematic gender differences that are significant for organizational psychology and personnel management. Specifically, female officers tend to prioritize development, social utility, and creativity, while male officers are more oriented toward structure, autonomy, and stability. The implications of these results point to the need for implementing differentiated motivational strategies in personnel management, which can help reduce professional burnout, enhance job satisfaction, and improve task performance in challenging conditions, particularly under martial law. Future study will focus on motivational factors of service effectiveness in crisis conditions.