The Psychology of a Security Guard

How you choose to approach your Security job is up to you. Some guards take it too seriously while others lax. Like any other job you just do it for eight hours. You should never act like you are protecting the president, it’s less stressful that way.

Some Security guards deal with the public, some sit in a Monitor Room watching TV screens, and others stand in the desert waiting for “terrorists” to try something. There are different types of guards for various situations so your psyche varies, but I work in an art museum. The biggest thing psychologically is the boredom.

Because of the snobby clientele an art museum usually attracts you will think it’s not a good idea to start conversations. Even if you are the nicest person on the planet you will find that the majority of guests you encounter are on a completely different field. Smart move is to not bother engaging them unless they need your help.

Do not shut yourself in entirely! Because if you refrain from interaction it can affect your social skills later, it can even make you down right inhospitable. You should never let your job change who you are. Depending on where you work you might have to put on your best game face, but in an art museum you just need to switch on auto-pilot. You will have to deal with assholes, but that is the down side to working with the public.

Your attitude before you get to work lingers harder in Security. You have tasks to perform in the morning (that is if your manager remembers to put together the paperwork), but for the most part you have nothing but time to think. If you have legal woes, a family member in the hospital, bad news from your doctor, or any other number of disheartening issues; you cannot just “leave your baggage at home” and you cannot “lose yourself in your work.” Time slows to a crawl during these instances.

Where you are posted has a lot to do with how well your day will go. If you are in a booth somewhere you will feel like you are in a cell. In an art gallery it’s even worse, you are mentally chained to the walls until it’s time to go home.