Sharjah: Stealing or shoplifting invites many ideas and judgements about the accused, said Dr Saliha Afridi, clinical psychologist and managing director of The Lighthouse Arabia Wellness Center.
However, the reasons why these individuals steal are not as easy or straightforward as one would think, according to her. “One thing is sure, shoplifting is rarely about genuinely needing the item stolen. Over the years, researchers have studied shoplifters and understood the motivation behind their complex behaviour.:
Dr Afridi highlights the various theories behind their motivation:
1. Desire: This is the term that comes to most people’s minds when they hear of a ‘shoplifter’. Fuelled by consumerism, this person has ‘wants’ and cannot afford the objects of desire so they steal them. This is usually a rational choice and often premeditated.
2. Dopamine: Some research shows that individuals experience a dopamine rush on stealing. This rewarding neurochemical creates a high as the person engages in sensation seeking and thrilling behaviour. This is also the neurochemical involved in addictions. This person typically underestimates the risk and overvalues the reward. Most teenagers will fall into this category.
3. Void: This person steals to fill a void in their life. This person has experienced a loss (real or perceived) and feels a sense of ‘emptiness’. Some people eat, shop, drink or work to fill the void — others steal. This person is typically also struggling with depression- which is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in shoplifters.
4. Impulse control disorder: This is a person who has a psychiatric disorder of impulse control. He/she falls into the same category as pathological gambling, or shopping. This person fails to resist a temptation, urge or impulse that may harm oneself or others. For this person, stealing is not a rational, premeditated decision but instead a faulty way of coping with unwanted thoughts of feelings.
5. Personality disorder: A sense of entitlement may be co-morbid with the above or a stand alone explanation for shoplifting. This person has a sense of entitlement that he/she should have whatever they want, and if he/she cannot afford it then they will simply “take it” without paying for it. They are typically not remorseful about their behaviour.