Self-Control and Crime Over the Life Course

What exactly is self-control, and what life outcomes does it affect? What causes a person to have high or low self-control to begin with? What effect does self-control have on crime and other harmful behavior?         Using a clear, conversational writing style, Self-Control and Crime Over the Life Course answers critical questions about self-control and its importance for understanding criminal behavior. Authors Carter Hay and Ryan Meldrum use intuitive examples to draw attention to the close connection between self-control and the behavioral choices people make, especially in reference to criminal, deviant, and harmful behaviors that often carry short-term benefits but long-term costs. The text builds an overall theoretical perspective that conveys the multi-disciplinary nature of modern-day self-control research. Moreover, far from emphasizing only theoretical issues, the authors place public policy at the forefront, using self-control research to inform policy efforts that reduce the societal costs of low self-control and the behaviors it enables.

"Low self-control has emerged as one of the leading causes of crime and deviance, some would argue the leading cause.  This book provides an excellent overview of the large body of research on self-control, both within and outside of criminology.  It covers a range of topics, including the varied causes and consequences of low self-control, self-control over the life course, and the policy implications of the self-control research.  It is well written and engaging, suitable for both students and professionals.  I highly recommend it as the best single source on this key concept in criminology.", "Hay and Meldrum provide a masterful and timely synthesis of the disparate literatures on self-control, one of the most important concepts in the study of antisocial behavior and deviance. Their clear, cogent, and objective assessment will not only inform ongoing research, but will also provide direction to the next generation of criminologists.", "There is little debate that the relationship between self-control and crime over the life-course has been among the most central of all criminological issues over the past quarter-century and the theoretical, empirical, and policy-related contributions have skyrocketed thereby keeping tabs on new findings has been difficult, that is, until now. Hay and Meldrum, two of the field’s most foremost thinkers on self-control have brought together this literature in a careful and easy going way. With chapter introductions that situate the material in real-world examples, they draw readers in and keep them there. A wonderful overview of the state of the science with many nuggets for future research outlined.", "I like the writing style of the text.  It is written at a level that complements the ability of my students.  It is also a fun read and has examples that are real attention-getters.", "Hay and Meldrum have put together an impressive book that covers the sweeping literature on self-control and its impact on human behavior.  This is an indispensable resource for students and scholars interested in understanding one of criminology’s most consistent predictors of criminal behavior."

Carter Hay is a professor and the director of graduate studies in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999. His articles, chapters, and books have focused on the causes and consequences of crime and deviance over the life course, with a special focus on self-control and its early in life precursors. Dr. Ryan C. Meldrum is an Associate Professor and the Director of Research and Communications in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida International University. He received his B.S. in Sociology from Oregon State University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Criminology from Florida State University. His research foci encompass various aspects of juvenile delinquency and young adult offending, with his current work concentrated in three areas: the causes and consequences of low self-control, the health consequences of a lack of sleep among teenagers, and racial and ethnic disparities in school discipline and juvenile justice sanctioning among youth. His research has been published in outlets including Criminology, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Criminal Justice, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Criminal Justice and Behavior, Crime & Delinquency,  Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Sleep Health, Intelligence, and Preventive Medicine. He also co-authored the book Self-Control and Crime over the Life Course. For his research contributions as a junior scholar, he was awarded the 2016 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) New Scholar Award.