Secure base leadership as an organizational resource in the police training of the Carabineros de Chile

What is it about?

Police training is demanding and can affect the well-being and motivation of future officers. This study examines how the way instructors lead—specifically, how their leadership is perceived by cadets—influences cadets during training. We focus on Secure Base Leadership (SBL), a model based on attachment theory that combines emotional support with encouragement to take initiative and face challenges. Using survey data from 1,626 cadets in two training academies of Carabineros de Chile, we found that cadets who perceived their instructors as showing these leadership behaviors reported lower burnout, higher engagement, and better performance. These findings suggest that leadership during training plays an important role in how cadets cope with demanding situations and stay motivated, with potential implications for their development as future police officers.

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