#Kleptomania specialists manual

Psychological trauma, especially trauma at a young age, may also contribute to the development of kleptomania.

being female, as two-thirds of people diagnosed with kleptomania are women.

a family history of kleptomania or addiction.

an imbalance in the brain’s opioid system, which controls urges.

relations with addictive disorders, since stealing can release the rush of dopamine that becomes addictive.

problems with low levels of serotonin, leading to an increase in impulsive behaviors.

having other mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, or personality disorders (The link seems to be strongest with obsessive-compulsive disorder.).

Genetics and biology may account for a portion of the root causes, which include: People may steal to prove their independence, to act out against family or friends, or because they don’t respect others or themselves.ĭifferent factors can contribute to kleptomania.

Social issues like feeling excluded or overlooked can also cause stealing. Stealing may be caused by jealousy, low self-esteem, or peer-pressure. Others simply enjoy the rush of stealing, or steal to fill an emotional or physical void in their lives. Some people steal as a means to survive due to economic hardship. Many other factors besides kleptomania can cause a person to steal. They’ll likely stash them away, throw them out, or give them to friends and family. Unlike criminal theft, the items that people with kleptomania steal will rarely be used. People with kleptomania also typically steal spontaneously and alone, while most criminal thefts are planned in advance and may involve another person. Many kleptomaniacs also feel guilty or remorseful after the act of stealing is over, but are later unable to resist the urge. People with kleptomania feel strong urges to steal, with anxiety, tension, and arousal leading up to the theft and feeling pleasure and relief during the theft. This is unlike most cases of criminal theft, where items are stolen either out of need or because they’re very expensive or valuable. The items stolen are often of little to no value, and they could often easily afford the item if they had decided to pay. In most cases of kleptomania, the person steals things that they don’t need. Kleptomania is a recurrent failure to resist the urge to steal.

#Kleptomania specialists manual

This type of stealing is about a psychological compulsion instead of a desire to profit or gain something material or financial, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. Kleptomania, or compulsive stealing, is a common cause of theft that many forget about.