I could not decide what to make a post about for a long time. I was searching for something in my head that could eventually become the topic and I remembered the conversation I had with my friend some time ago. Somehow we ended up talking about kleptomania and I thought that it could be interesting to write about.
Kleptomania is defined as “tendency to steal items not needed for personal use or monetary value.” People who suffer from it do not actually need items they steal; it is more about feeling pleasure from theft. An individual just has a sudden compulsion to steal and not committing it is upsetting to him or her.
The specific cause of kleptomania is unknown, but there are a few hypothesizes. People with kleptomania tend to have other psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. It has also been linked to childhood trauma, “and stealing may symbolize repossessing the losses of childhood.” Sexual repression and suppression also considered as possible causes. One more theory suggests that kleptomania can be caused by abnormalities in the brain chemical serotonin.
Kleptomania is more common among women than men. Typical picture of person with kleptomania is women in early adulthood that feels both pleasure and guilt for her thefts.
Combination of pharmaceutical and behavioral treatments helps to manage kleptomania but it does not cure it.
As you can see kleptomania is a mystery. There is no specific cause of it and there is no cure that helps person to get rid of kleptomania for sure. People with this problem suffer throughout the life; they struggle with satisfying their own desire for stealing and guilt of committing a crime that can lead to criminal record.
I had never heard of kleptomania until reading this article so my attention was caught on the new topic. I find this type of theft very interesting as it seems that most people steal items that they really want or believe they need. Depending on the type of theft, it can be a very serious crime, so it is shocking that people would risk stealing things they do not even necessarily want. According to mayo clinic, the items that are stolen most times the theft can afford themselves! It is nice to see that kleptomania can be treated by doctors for those seeking help! This article made me question if someone had a loved one that suffered from kleptomania, can they really be mad at the person for their disorder or would they recognize they have a psychological issue?
The first time I was introduced to the concept of kleptomania was in an episode of Zoey 101. I don’t think I fully grasped the idea of what the disorder really was when I was 10 years old. When I was in the process of looking for a roommate, everyone asked me if she was a kleptomaniac, and I wondered why they always asked. After reading your blog, it is clear to me how severe the disorder is, and I now know why I would not want somebody like that for a roommate. Your article was very informative, and all of the links are very beneficial to the blog.