Coping with Life-Threatening Experiences at the Street Level: Psychological and Institutional Adaptation Among Police Officers in the October 7 Attack in Israel

How do street-level bureaucrats cope cognitively and emotionally with life-threatening experiences at work, and what are the consequences of such exposure for their relationship with the institutions and citizens they serve? Drawing on political psychology, this study explores cognitive coping efforts with life-threatening situations during the event and in its aftermath. Based on 30 in-depth interviews, we identify two main coping mechanisms that enabled officers to function under threat: auto-pilot mode, meaning relying on instinct and training, and emotional detachment, meaning suppressing emotions to stay focused. After the attack, the officers reported symptoms of stress, emotional withdrawal, and difficulty reconnecting with family. They often relied on peer trust and meaning-making strategies, such as exercise or spirituality to recover. These experiences also altered their professional behavior, leading to greater caution and distance from citizens. The study contributes to coping theory by distinguishing between situational coping during a crisis and adaptive coping afterward. It advances the study of political psychology by showing how public servants’ cognitive regulation in life-threatening contexts sustains not only individual survival but also the continuity of state functioning under extreme conditions. Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of a warzone.