Kleptomania (impulsive Theft): 6 Myths About This Disorder
What is kleptomania? Because often the wrong information, the clichés of television and cinema and the stigmatization of those who ignore the seriousness of this disorder; Patients with kleptomania have been an easy target for decades, not only being the subject of ridicule and prejudice but also of unfair legal battles against them.
This, with the passage of time, has only reaffirmed that there is a profound lack of knowledge regarding this disorder. That is why today, We have set out to debunk some of the most widespread myths about kleptomaniacs.
However, it is necessary to clarify from the beginning what exactly this disease consists of. Kleptomania is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (in its fourth edition) as a disorder belonging to the group of impulse control disorders and whose main characteristic consists of recurrent difficulty controlling impulses to steal.
The kleptomaniac often has an uncontrollable impulse to steal things he does not need. The fundamental components of those who suffer from this disorder include recurring thoughts of intrusion, the feeling of helplessness that pushes them to commit the theft, and a feeling of release of pressure and a certain euphoria after having committed the theft.
Diagnostic criteria for kleptomania
Likewise, the DSM-IV also provides us with the diagnostic criteria for this disease, among which are the following:
Habitual difficulty managing and controlling impulses to commit theft even in objects and goods that are not essential for personal use or for their economic value.
Feeling of uncertainty and tension in the moments before committing the theft.
Well-being, feeling of euphoria and success at the time of perpetrating the robbery.
Theft does not have an angry motivation nor is it a response to a delusional disorder or background hallucinations.
ANDTheft is not explained by the presence of a conduct disorderan antisocial personality disorder or a manic episode.
People diagnosed with kleptomania They frequently have other types of disorders that negatively influence their mood. The comorbidity of kleptomania is varied, but the most common disorders are: anxiety, problems related to eating or also within the same impulse control group.
It is also important to clarify that kleptomaniacs are usually categorized into three groups, these being: sporadic kleptomaniacsamong whom the time between robbery and robbery occurs in very long intervals; the episodic kleptomaniacsin which case thefts are committed more frequently but in which there are certain periods of “rest” and the chronic kleptomaniacswho steal latently and continuously to the point where this activity constitutes a severe problem for the person and disrupts their daily activities.
Dismantling myths
Among the myths that are most frequently related to this disease and those who suffer from it, we find the following:
Myth 1: They feel pleasure in stealing and are incapable of feeling guilt
The kleptomaniac experiences an accumulation of negative emotions and a certain increase in internal tension before stealing an object, so he feels that only by stealing will he be able to alleviate this discomfort. Although it is true that this feeling of relief from tension is present after carrying out the act, the sensation is different from that of pleasure, because it is usually accompanied by a latent feeling of guilt after the act. In other words, Anxiety and internal tension (increasing in the moments prior to the act) are mitigated through theft.
Myth 2: They will steal whenever they have the opportunity and they are incurable
As we have mentioned before, The number of robberies that a person with this condition will commit will vary depending on the type of kleptomaniac they are. (episodic, sporadic or chronic). Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that kleptomaniacs only commit thefts in response to a previous increase in anxiety and tension, so the belief that they are capable of stealing everything if they have the opportunity to do so is false. Regarding treatment, various therapies (especially behavioral) have shown very good results in mitigating anxiety prior to the act and, thus, eliminating the need to steal.
Myth 3: Thefts by kleptomaniacs are escalating and they are professional thieves
When kleptomaniacs steal, they are only responding to an inner impulse.. That is why they do not share any characteristics with “common” thieves beyond the fact of stealing, which is why they are not capable of premeditating or planning their thefts, they simply do it occasionally. For this same reason, their thefts do not escalate, like for example those of career criminals who went through a criminal evolutionary process (for example, they started by stealing a wallet, then robbed a store, then a bank, etc.). Kleptomaniacs do not become professional in what they do, they simply do it. It is true that they will find the best opportunity to do so, but at no time is this intended to be their modus vivendi (the way they make a living) since, for them, stealing does not entail any lucrative benefit.
Myth 5: They are perfectly capable of controlling their desire to steal but they don’t want to.
Completely false. Kleptomaniacs are able to understand the act of stealing is wrongbut they simply cannot control their need to steal things. For them it is as necessary to commit the act of stealing as it is for a gambler to gamble. That is why it is sometimes debated whether it should be classified as part of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Myth 6: They are crazy/deviant/mentally insane
Neither crazy nor insane: They are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, since they do not have delusional or paranoid characteristics.so they understand reality perfectly. Sometimes, it is true that the act of stealing can interfere with their daily activities (as in the case of chronic kleptomaniacs), but correct treatment can redirect the situation and provide them with a completely normal life.
Differences between the kleptomaniac and the common thief
Below we outline some of the differences that kleptomaniacs have in relation to common thieves.
While common thieves commit their acts out of their own conviction, the kleptomaniac responds to an inner impulse.so the latter does not commit his acts with free will.
Some mild psychopathic traits are commonly found in thieves. (for example, the need to immediately satisfy their drives, egocentrism, perversity, etc.) while in kleptomaniacs there are no features of some of the previous characteristics.
Thieves generally seek to profit from the goods they steal; kleptomaniacs don’t. Likewise, while common thieves steal goods they consider to be of greatest value, kleptomaniacs are only motivated by the act of stealing itself, and do not make judgments of monetary value about the goods they steal.
Within the distorted scheme of values of a thief, what he does is right or “just.”. A kleptomaniac, however, knows that what he does is not right but it is very difficult for him to control it.
The thief usually has no remorse (or more specifically yes, but mitigates this with intricate defense mechanisms) while the kleptomaniac, as soon as the act is completed, is overcome with enormous amounts of guilt and anguish.
What therapies can help a kleptomaniac?
Current therapies that aim to diffuse the impulses to steal in kleptomaniacs can be pharmacological and/or behavioral. On many occasions, antidepressants are administered with the aim of regulating the levels of serotonin released by the subject at the time of committing the act.
As we mentioned previously, among the most effective psychotherapeutic works for kleptomaniacs are behavioral therapies with an emphasis on cognitive. This type of therapy achieves adequate development in your daily activities. On the other hand, some psychoanalysts report that the true causes of compulsive theft center on discomforts unconsciously repressed during early childhood. It is also advised that those who suffer from this disorder share their experiences, sensations and thoughts with a third party, so that this trusted person plays a “watchdog” role.
