What is it called when someone feels the need to continuously steal?
Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is the recurrent inability to resist urges to steal items that you generally don’t really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania is a rare but serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated.
What are people who like to steal called?
The word kleptomania comes from the Greek word kleptes for “thief” and mania for “madness.” Pyromania makes people want to light everything on fire, and kleptomania makes people want to steal all the time. People who have kleptomania — kleptomaniacs — are crazy about stealing.
Why do people steal things they already own?
A person who steals things that he already owns, can easily afford, or does not want or need can be baffling. Mental health professionals may think that his stealing can be explained by a psychological disorder. The habitual thief may appear to suffer from a compulsion (“ kleptomania ”).
Can depression make you feel better but not steal?
If he spots security devices or personnel, he is not compelled to steal. He makes a series of choices as to when to steal and calculates when conditions are optimal. “Feeling better” has little relevance to relieving depression. Thousands of people are depressed but are not tempted to steal.
Do mental health professionals have an excuse for crime?
If a criminal doesn’t have enough excuses for crime, mental health professionals provide more. “Kleptomania” may exist in the minds of mental health professionals but it is a concept that offers an excuse rather than an explanation. A so-called “kleptomaniac” is actually someone who steals frequently and becomes good at it.
What do shoplifters say when caught?
For example, when apprehended, shoplifters say things like, “Everybody does it,” “the store overcharges to begin with,” “the store won’t miss it,” “I didn’t have the money.” These transparent excuses after the fact have little bearing on the actual motivation to steal.