October 16, 2025Open Access

Ideological dilemmas of policing on the spectrum: Using critical discursive psychology to examine how neurodivergent police manage their identity framing

MOMichelle O’ReillyUniversity of Leicester ADAlison DrewettLoughborough University STSamuel TromansUniversity of Leicester

Key Points

Neurodivergent police navigate complex identity issues related to disability and ability, influencing their professional roles.
The study reveals three ideological dilemmas, including tensions between medical and social identity framings, impacting the police's experiences.
Interviews with 37 autistic officers and those with ADHD provide insight into how they manage identity within policing contexts.
The findings suggest a need for organizations to shift away from binary views of ability and disability to better support neurodivergent employees.

Abstract

In the context of autism and ADHD, tensions exist between medical and social model framings of disability. This article explores neurodivergent police accounts of how aspects of their conditions intersect with their occupational identity and what this means for a disability positioning. Using critical discursive psychology, we illuminate three ideological dilemmas from reflective interviews with 37 autistic police or those with ADHD: (1) tensions between the medical and social identity; (2) tensions between constructing ability and disability; and (3) tensions between remaining invisible and being an advocate. We conclude that a focus on discourse illustrates that organisations need to move away from binary thinking in relation to ability and disability and reconcile some of the tensions navigated by police employees.

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