Running in While Running Out

Under fire: Meta‐dehumanization and burnout among first responders

“…In another study of 6307 firefighters, Wolkow et al (2019) found that almost 50% reported burnout. These figures are not surprising, given that first responder professions entail a maximum workload-long hours and a great deal of pressure (Bochantin et al, 2020;Kirschman, 2018)-and relatively minimal pay (Rodriguez et al, 2016). First responders often earn less than the overall median income, if they are paid at all.…”

“…Although public perception can and does fluctuate, there seems to be a tendency toward polarized stereotypes regarding first responders (Kirschman, 2021); they are either good or bad, heroes or villains. Additionally, first responder culture emphasizes toughness, vigilance, and stoicism, essentially encouraging a machine‐like demeanor in which emotions are shut down for the sake of the mission (Henderson et al., 2016; Kirschman, 2021; Rodriguez et al., 2016). While these cultural values are beneficial for the job, they are often incompatible with the first responder's life outside of work.…”

“…First responders are often described as superheroes, which reflects the deistic form of dehumanization (Lanza et al., 2018; Rodriguez et al., 2016). When COVID‐19 emerged, for instance, there were numerous campaigns thanking the “heroes of the pandemic” (Bates, 2020).…”