Should sensitivity training be required for today’s security professionals? On many occasions, security professionals work with the widest cross section of humanity, ranging from people who have mental health issues or drug and alcohol addictions to people who have physical disabilities. The challenge for security professionals includes an understanding and sensitivity to the cultural differences that are woven into our pluralistic, multicultural society.

Security professionals need to have an understanding of the types of prejudice that may exist due to people’s different ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation and physical and mental disabilities. When undergoing sensitivity training, security professionals need to be aware of their own biases in order to prevent them from affecting the way they interact with the public. Training helps them understand the ways that misinterpretation and miscommunications can take place between people with divergent backgrounds.