Self-Control, Punitiveness, and Career Aspirations: Understanding Criminal Justice Major Selection

• In Event: Exploring Student Attitudes Toward Policing, Punishment, and Career Pathways

Abstract

Criminal justice careers often attract individuals with diverse personality traits, yet little research has examined how self-control and punitiveness shape students’ decisions to pursue this field. Grounded in criminological theory, this study explores the associations between self-reported self-control, punitiveness, and career preferences among undergraduate and graduate students at a mid-sized university in the northeastern United States. Research suggests that higher self-control is linked to deliberate, rational decision-making, while higher punitiveness is associated with authoritarian views on justice and punishment. Using survey data, this study investigates whether these traits influence students’ choice to major in criminal justice and their future career aspirations. Findings offer insights for recruitment, curriculum development, and career advising, helping institutions better understand and support students entering the field.

Author

• Mariah Robles, University of New Haven