In search of the “Rescue Personality”. A questionnaire study with emergency medical services personnel

The construct of the “Rescue Personality” as claimed by Mitchell (1983) in the course of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing was investigated in a sample of 173 Emergency Medical Services (EMSs) personnel. As hypothesized EMS personnel scored lower on neuroticism and openness but higher on conscientiousness and risk and competition seeking compared with a norm sample. By contrast, EMS personnel showed lower scores for agreeableness and no differences for extraversion. Duration of EMS service was not associated with personality except for extraversion preliminarily supporting a predisposition model. Furthermore, EMS volunteers did not differ from EMS professionals regarding personality, again except for extraversion. These results provide first evidence for most of Mitchell’s assumptions concerning the “Rescue Personality”. Implications for vocational choice, prevention and crisis intervention are discussed.

► We found evidence for most of Mitchells’ assumptions on the “Rescue Personality”.
► Personality traits of 173 Emergency Medical Services (EMSs) personnel were assessed.
► EMS personnel scored lower on neuroticism and openness compared with a norm sample.
► By contrast, EMS personnel scored higher on conscientiousness and sensation seeking.
► Duration of service had no effect on personality except for extraversion.