Final answer:
Waddington found that while formal training exists, the informal culture of the police significantly influences the socialization of new officers, teaching them both material and nonmaterial culture through daily interactions. This process helps new recruits adhere to institutional norms and develop their professional identities within the police force.
Step-by-step explanation:
Waddington's research on the informal culture of the police and its influence on the socialization of new officers highlights that while formal training is provided, much of the socialization process occurs informally.
As new recruits integrate into the police force, they undergo a transformation whereby they need to assimilate both material culture, like learning to operate specific equipment, and nonmaterial culture, which encompasses the norms, values, and behavioral expectations of the policing community.
This informal socialization solidifies group norms and ensures that newcomers adopt the attitudes and behaviors deemed necessary for the institution.
Organizations play a role in this process by providing strong onboarding programs to facilitate workplace socialization, but informal peer processes also heavily influence the adoption of the workplace culture.
Essentially, as new officers are introduced into the policing environment, they learn to navigate both explicit rules and unspoken codes of conduct through interactions with seasoned officers.
This reflects a broader pattern of workplace socialization, where material and nonmaterial culture are transmitted and reinforced through daily practices and social interactions with authoritative figures and peers.
As they immerse themselves in this culture, officers develop their professional identities in alignment with the prevailing norms of their department.