Recent Research Articles
Meldrum, Ryan C., Partin, Raymond D., and Peter S. Lehmann. In Press. The role of criminal history, low self-control, and social learning variables in accessing the Dark Web. Journal of Crime and Justice.
The Dark Web has emerged as an important topic of study given that the platform can facilitate criminal behavior. Recently, social scientists have started to examine the behavioral and psychosocial profiles of individuals who access the Dark Web and how they differ from those who do not. Yet, further development of this line of inquiry is warranted given the limited number of criminolgically oriented studies examining the traits, social relationships, and attitudes that may drive self-selection onto the Dark Web. To this end, we analyzed survey data collected on a national sample of U.S. adults (N = 1,750) to investigate whether prior criminal behavior, low self-control, deviant peers, and criminal attitudes are associated with self-reported Dark Web access. In support of our hypotheses, a series of bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that individuals who report accessing the Dark Web are statistically significantly more likely to have a criminal history, be lower in self-control, associate with more peers who engage in cyber deviance, and hold attitudes more favorable toward larceny, violence, and cyber deviance. Considering these findings, criminologists are encouraged to bring the study of the Dark Web out of the periphery and prioritize it as a research focus.
The Dark Web has emerged as an important topic of study given that the platform can facilitate criminal behavior. Recently, social scientists have started to examine the behavioral and psychosocial profiles of individuals who access the Dark Web and how they differ from those who do not. Yet, further development of this line of inquiry is warranted given the limited number of criminolgically oriented studies examining the traits, social relationships, and attitudes that may drive self-selection onto the Dark Web. To this end, we analyzed survey data collected on a national sample of U.S. adults (N = 1,750) to investigate whether prior criminal behavior, low self-control, deviant peers, and criminal attitudes are associated with self-reported Dark Web access. In support of our hypotheses, a series of bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that individuals who report accessing the Dark Web are statistically significantly more likely to have a criminal history, be lower in self-control, associate with more peers who engage in cyber deviance, and hold attitudes more favorable toward larceny, violence, and cyber deviance. Considering these findings, criminologists are encouraged to bring the study of the Dark Web out of the periphery and prioritize it as a research focus.
Meldrum, Ryan C., Partin, Raymond D., Lehmann, Peter S., and Salpi S. Kevorkian. 2025. Crying out in the dark? Exploring the mental health vulnerabilities of dark web users. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 28, 794-800.
Despite the emergence of the dark web more than 20 years ago, little scholarly attention has focused on identifying potential mental health differences between dark web users and surface web users. Yet, given the pseudo-anonymous nature of the dark web and the purported privacy it provides, individuals with mental health vulnerabilities may be inclined to use the dark web. In the present study, we investigate this matter by drawing on survey data collected in 2024 from a national sample of 2,000 U.S. adults. The results of both bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that dark web users exhibit greater depressive symptoms and have more paranoid thoughts than surface web users. Likewise, dark web users are more likely than surface web users to report suicidal thoughts, nonsuicidal self-injury, and engagement in digital self-harm. Discussion centers on the implications of these findings for practice as well as avenues for future research.
Despite the emergence of the dark web more than 20 years ago, little scholarly attention has focused on identifying potential mental health differences between dark web users and surface web users. Yet, given the pseudo-anonymous nature of the dark web and the purported privacy it provides, individuals with mental health vulnerabilities may be inclined to use the dark web. In the present study, we investigate this matter by drawing on survey data collected in 2024 from a national sample of 2,000 U.S. adults. The results of both bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that dark web users exhibit greater depressive symptoms and have more paranoid thoughts than surface web users. Likewise, dark web users are more likely than surface web users to report suicidal thoughts, nonsuicidal self-injury, and engagement in digital self-harm. Discussion centers on the implications of these findings for practice as well as avenues for future research.
Meldrum, Ryan C., Mindthoff, Amelia, Evans, Jacqueline R., and Alex R. Piquero. 2024. Experimental evidence that alcohol intoxication diminishes the inhibitory effect of self-control on reactive aggression. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 20, 635-660.
Objectives: Past research has investigated factors that condition the association between self-control and antisocial behavior. Absent from consideration has been the possible moderating effect of alcohol intoxication.
Methods: Using a placebo-controlled experimental design, we explore whether alcohol intoxication moderates the association between self-control and two vignette-based measures of reactive aggression. Results: Self-control is negatively associated with reactive aggression among sober participants, but the association is no different from zero among participants assigned to intoxicated and placebo conditions. For the vignette revealing stronger evidence of a moderating effect of alcohol intoxication, the negative effect of self-control on reactive aggression becomes non-significant starting at a breath alcohol concentration that amounts to approximately one alcoholic beverage. Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence that alcohol intoxication diminishes the association between self-control and reactive aggression, adding to existing research focused on factors that condition the association between self-control and antisocial behavior.
Objectives: Past research has investigated factors that condition the association between self-control and antisocial behavior. Absent from consideration has been the possible moderating effect of alcohol intoxication.
Methods: Using a placebo-controlled experimental design, we explore whether alcohol intoxication moderates the association between self-control and two vignette-based measures of reactive aggression. Results: Self-control is negatively associated with reactive aggression among sober participants, but the association is no different from zero among participants assigned to intoxicated and placebo conditions. For the vignette revealing stronger evidence of a moderating effect of alcohol intoxication, the negative effect of self-control on reactive aggression becomes non-significant starting at a breath alcohol concentration that amounts to approximately one alcoholic beverage. Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence that alcohol intoxication diminishes the association between self-control and reactive aggression, adding to existing research focused on factors that condition the association between self-control and antisocial behavior.
Meldrum, Ryan C., Stults, Brian J., Hay, Carter, Kernsmith, Poco D., and Joanne P. Smith-Darden. 2022. Adverse childhood experiences, developmental differences in impulse control and sensation seeking, and delinquency: A prospective multi-cohort study. Journal of Criminal Justice, 82, 101993.
Purpose: Developmental trajectories of low impulse control coupled with high sensation seeking are associated
with greater adolescent delinquency. In addition, several studies link adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to
lower self-control and increases in delinquency. Herein, we develop and test an integrated model which synthesizes these two strands of research. Methods: Using four waves of panel data from the Supporting Healthy Adolescent Relationships and Environments (SHARE) study, we estimate latent classes representing dual trajectories of impulse control and sensation seeking to investigate if the association between ACEs and delinquency operates indirectly via class membership among two cohorts of youth. Results: Greater exposure to ACEs is associated with membership in latent classes characterized by greater sensation seeking and lower impulse control. In addition, membership in such classes is positively associated with delinquency, and the association between ACEs and delinquency is partially mediated by class membership in each cohort of youth.
Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the utility of integrating insights from multiple fields to study the cascading
effects of ACEs. Still, there appear to be additional avenues through which ACEs shape later involvement in
delinquency that extend beyond the dual systems framework, necessitating additional research on other
potentially relevant mechanisms.
Purpose: Developmental trajectories of low impulse control coupled with high sensation seeking are associated
with greater adolescent delinquency. In addition, several studies link adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to
lower self-control and increases in delinquency. Herein, we develop and test an integrated model which synthesizes these two strands of research. Methods: Using four waves of panel data from the Supporting Healthy Adolescent Relationships and Environments (SHARE) study, we estimate latent classes representing dual trajectories of impulse control and sensation seeking to investigate if the association between ACEs and delinquency operates indirectly via class membership among two cohorts of youth. Results: Greater exposure to ACEs is associated with membership in latent classes characterized by greater sensation seeking and lower impulse control. In addition, membership in such classes is positively associated with delinquency, and the association between ACEs and delinquency is partially mediated by class membership in each cohort of youth.
Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the utility of integrating insights from multiple fields to study the cascading
effects of ACEs. Still, there appear to be additional avenues through which ACEs shape later involvement in
delinquency that extend beyond the dual systems framework, necessitating additional research on other
potentially relevant mechanisms.