Social representations in security organizations. Role and influence in the meaning of life

The research investigated the social representations and personal aspirations of people who take part in security organizations and their impact on the meaning of life, using a mixed methodological orientation with an analysis of 93 members of the security forces. A non-experimental type of design of descriptive phenomenological effect was used, by providing, in an interview context, the Appreciation Questionnaire on Personal Role and Aspirations (CARAP) instruments and the Andrés Gottfried's Argentine Adaptation of the Purpose in Life Test (PIL TEST) of Crumbaugh and Maholick, in order to find out the extent of the meaning of life and social representations. The findings show that 80% of the interviewees stated that they had their own idea of role: 17.20% were unaware of the duties and activities related to the role to be performed and the remaining 2.15% stated that they did not answer the question asked. The results of the CARAP questionnaire and part B of the PIL Test enables us to affirm that it was possible to learn about the aspirations of the people who take part in security organizations. Likewise, it was evidenced that, in order to reach their aspirations in a significant percentage of 46.49%, they acknowledge the need to make an effort, to give the best of themselves and to work to achieve what they long for. Finally, a proposal was elaborated to enrich the training processes of future applicants by receiving guidance with group dynamics and introducing them to consider the role they will play and the influence it will have on their meaning of life.