Shoplifting is a very common issue all throughout the world, and the US is no exception, with approximately one in every eleven Americans having shoplifted at least once in their lives. One of the reasons why fighting this problem is so difficult is that there could be a huge number of reasons as to why people shoplift. Obviously, many do it out of poverty and dire physical need for basic goods. Others do it because of substance-abuse addictions, such as alcoholism and drug addiction, as they need the money to afford the substance in question.
However, there are also many instances, where the cause for stealing is a mental health issue that has nothing to do with meeting any specific physical need. Conditions that impede a person's impulse-control, such kleptomania and shoplifting addiction, are also common causes that drive people to shoplift.
Although such conditions don't make shoplifting any less of a crime, taking a deeper look at what causes them and approaching them with understanding and compassion can make a huge difference in helping the person struggling with those conditions to overcome the problem.
Similarities
Before we tell you about the differences between kleptomania and compulsive shoplifting/shoplifting addiction, we should first get their similarities out of the way. Both of those conditions cause a person to feel a very strong or nearly irresistible urge to steal. In both cases, the main drive to steal something isn't the physical need for that object, but rather a strong emotional discomfort prior to the act of stealing, as well as a brief relief felt afterwards.
Furthermore, both kleptomania and shoplifting addiction often stem from, and/or are associated with psychological trauma and mental health problems.
Last but not least, the two conditions and the respective behaviors triggered by them, are commonly stigmatized in today's society, causing people struggling with them to avoid seeking professional help out of fear of being shamed and ostracized.
Kleptomania and shoplifting addiction are different from one another
Shoplifting addiction and kleptomania are often used interchangeably, since their external manifestation, the act of stealing something, is the same. However, the truth is that there are some substantial differences between these two conditions, and depending on which of the two a person is struggling with, the methods to prevail over the problem can differ significantly.
Characteristics of kleptomania
Kleptomania is a specific mental disorder that's quite rare, with only a small percentage (between 4% and 24% depending on the source) of shoplifters suffering from it. It is characterized by irresistible sudden urges to steal objects for the sake of stealing them, rather than for a physical need for said objects. Kleptomania is akin to and often associated with other mental health disorders, such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), where the affected person is unable or has a very hard time resisting the urge to perform a certain action. In the case of kleptomania, that action is stealing something. Typically, prior to performing the act of stealing, the kleptomaniac would feel anxiety, tension, or another type of strong emotional discomfort, that's only be relieved after an object has been stolen. However, the relief is only brief, and it's coupled with strong feelings of shame and remorse.
Another thing to make clear is that kleptomaniacs rarely, if ever, plan their next act of stealing. In most instances, their urge to steal appears suddenly, once they are in a situation or environment where they have the opportunity to steal. If anything, a kleptomaniac is more likely to plan their day to avoid places and situations, where their disorder may be triggered.
It's important to note that kleptomaniacs have very little control over their actions when they feel the urge to steal as their impulse-control and ability to resist that urge are heavily inhibited by the condition. Using willpower to resist kleptomaniac impulse is an ineffective strategy to deal with the problem. A much better approach is to seek professional help that will allow the person to tackle the issue in an informed, systematic way, and infinitely more effectively.
Characteristics of shoplifting addiction
Like kleptomania, the shoplifting addiction is characterized by irresistible urges to steal in order to obtain temporary emotional relief. However, while the cause of kleptomania is typically associated with a strong, compulsive need to perform the specific action of stealing without any logical reason behind it, a shoplifting addict is a person who steals because of the emotional high received after the act of stealing is performed. Much like with alcohol or drug addiction, shoplifting addicts are rewarded with a powerful dopamine and serotonin spike once they satiate their need for stealing.
Although shoplifting addicts, too, would often steal on the spur of the moment, unlike kleptomaniacs, a lot of them may actually plan their next trip to a store, where they can satiate their addiction. The reason is that people addicted to shoplifting feel the need to steal most or all of the time, whereas kleptomaniacs would only get the urge to steal once there's an opportunity to do so.
It is important to note that most shoplifting addicts also tend to feel overwhelming feelings of regret and shame after they've stolen something, in spite of the initial dopamine spike. Furthermore, as is with any addiction, the more a person continues to indulge in it, the more it gets out of control, causing an ever-growing list of problems in all aspects of one's life.
Seeking help
Whether a person is suffering from kleptomania or struggling with shoplifting addiction, it is crucial to acknowledge and understand that these conditions are more powerful than one's will to resist them and will inevitably win if specific steps aren't taken to overcome them.
One of the most important things a person dealing with such disorders must realize is that they aren't alone, and there's help out there. A great example of how one can find the help they need in order to prevail over their kleptomania or shoplifting addiction is by taking up an anonymous theft awareness class, where their issue will be met with understanding and without judgment. Seeking out help with fighting such conditions is the responsible thing to do and will help not only the affected person, but also their closest people, and society as a whole.
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