Kleptomania is a mental health disorder characterized by a recurrent urge to steal items that are typically not needed for personal use or for their monetary value. People with kleptomania often experience tension before committing theft and relief or gratification afterwards, despite the theft not providing any practical benefit. Shoplifting is often a manifestation of this condition.
Kleptomania is considered an impulse control disorder and can lead to significant distress, impairment in social or occupational functioning and legal consequences if not treated.
In a 2022 paper, researcher Gudisa Bereda writes, “The stealing is not committed to express anger or vengeance and is not in response to a delusion or a hallucination.”
This begs the question: What drives kleptomaniacs to commit acts of theft even with possible negative consequences?
Here are three reasons behind the behavior of a kleptomaniac, according to research.
1. A Lack Of Impulse Control
A 2018 study found that individuals with kleptomania who shoplifted reported high levels of impulsivity. Impulsivity can lead to sudden, unplanned acts of stealing without considering the consequences.
Kleptomaniacs often struggle with a limited sense of self-control and experience an overwhelming urge to steal when presented with the opportunity, driven by impulsive thoughts or feelings that they struggle to control. This inability to inhibit impulses contributes to the repetitive nature of kleptomania, as individuals may feel compelled to steal despite their better judgment.
Research shows that a kleptomaniac’s impulsive decision-making may be tied to the need to seek new experiences and sensations, feeling excited by stealing or possibly a susceptibility to boredom. While stealing is accompanied by a feeling of temporary gratification, such individuals often experience guilt and remorse, which may trigger a cycle of stealing to “feel okay” again.
Kleptomaniacs also tend to have high rates of other impulse control disorders such as eating disorders, substance abuse or dependence and compulsive behavior.
2. High Levels Of Depression
Research shows that kleptomaniacs often struggle with mood disorders, including major depressive disorder. Researchers believe that kleptomania may be a maladaptive response to a depressive mood state and the feelings of guilt and shame that follow instances of compulsive stealing can intensify these feelings of depression.
A kleptomaniac’s actions are often “ego-dystonic”—they are inconsistent with or contradictory to the individual’s self-perception, values and internal beliefs, often causing anxiety and discomfort.
Researchers also suggest that kleptomania could be associated with childhood trauma, neglectful or abusive parenting, sexual repression and possibly trying to compensate for a sense of loss in one’s life through stealing.
Kleptomania may also be associated with dysfunction in the brain’s dopamine reward pathway. Stealing can release dopamine and feelings of pleasure in the brain, becoming a way to feel something when one has been struggling with numbness or apathy in a depressive state.
3. Unhealthy Responses To Stress
For many kleptomaniacs, stealing may serve as a way to cope with negative emotions and underlying psychological stress. The act of stealing may provide temporary relief from emotional discomfort or serve as a distraction from issues in other areas of one’s life. For instance, shoplifters may experience a debilitating loss of self-esteem prior to committing theft.
Research shows that shoplifters usually view stealing as a low-risk way to cope with their physical, emotional or economic stress.
“Shoplifters were more likely than other shoppers to hold negative attitudes toward the “system,” value material possessions, view items as overpriced, think stolen items will never be missed and perceive fewer consequences from shoplifting than did other shoppers,” the researchers explain.
Such individuals are more likely to cope with alcohol or drugs as a way to disengage from stressors or difficult emotions rather than expressing or addressing their feelings directly. This can involve denying or minimizing emotions, a sense of detachment and avoiding actions that could help alleviate stress, further exacerbating the problem.
It is important for individuals to develop adaptive coping strategies that allow them to address stressors constructively and seek support when needed. A combination of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology can be highly beneficial in treating kleptomania.
The stigma kleptomaniacs face can leave them feeling ashamed, embarrassed or afraid to seek support. They may fear judgment or condemnation from others or struggle with self-blame, leading them to believe that they are morally deficient or unworthy of support.
However, individuals with kleptomania are deserving of empathy, attention and compassion. It is crucial to recognize kleptomania as a legitimate mental health condition rather than a character flaw or moral failing. With the right support and treatment, such individuals can lead fulfilling lives, make amends and overcome the challenges associated with their disorder.
If you are curious about your own sensation-seeking tendencies, take this test: Sensation Seeking Scale
