The latest findings of the University of Otago's long-running developmental study may sound like common sense, but by pushing social programmes aimed at increasing self-control in children, governments could improve society without expensive or disruptive changes such as altering the tax system, Prof Poulton said.
Parents should take every opportunity to instil self control in their children, and should view it as a skill to develop and strengthen, Prof Poulton said.
While childhood was the best time, it was not too late for adults.
"The horse has not totally bolted from the barn."
Prof Terrie Moffitt, the unit's associate director, who is usually based at Duke University in the United States, said researchers examined the role of careers and jobs in developing self-control.
Those with responsible or senior jobs in their 20s improved their self control measures, she said.
For children, it was important to devise social programmes to instil self-control, but the jury was still out on how that was best achieved.
"Our research singles out children's self-control as a clear target for prevention policy, apart from all other influential features of children's backgrounds, such as their family life, socio-economic status or the child's intelligence," she said.
The research has been published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
