The paper describes a case of a compulsive shoplifter who was treated successfully by behaviour therapy. The main objective of treatment was to increase time spent on self-rewarding activities where the patient was able to fulfil her need for excitement, challenge and purpose, while simultaneously reducing her ‘unacceptable’ activities (shoplifting, excessive housework). A theoretical model of compulsive shoplifting is presented and discussed. According to the model, low self-esteem provided the starting point for a chain of developments in which feelings of frustration, exploitation, resentment and lack of self-fulfilment became communicated indirectly through shoplifting activity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeckA. T.WardC. H.MendelsonM.MockJ.ErbaughJ. (1961) An inventory for measuring depression. Arch. Gen. Psychiat.4, 53–63.
2.
BradfordJ.BalmacedaK. (1983) Shoplifting: Is there a specific psychiatric syndrome?Canad. J. Psychiat.28, 248–53.
3.
CoidJ. (1984) Relief of Diazepam—Withdrawal Syndrome by Shoplifting. Brit. J. Psychiat.552–4.
4.
CraftM.SpencerM. (1984) Shoplifting. In CraftM.CraftA. (eds.), Mentally Abnormal Offenders.London, Bailliere Tindall, pp. 50–9.
5.
DombroseL. A.SlobinM. S. (1958) The IES Test. Perceptual and Motor Skills, (Monogr. Suppl. 3-V8) 8, 347–89.
6.
EysenckH. J.EysenckS. B. G. (1975) Manual of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Junior and Adults).London, Hodder and Stoughton.
7.
GibbensT. C. N. (1981) Shoplifting. (Comment.)Brit. J. Psychiat.138, 346–7.
8.
GibbensT. C. N.PrinceJ. (1962) Shoplifting. London, ISTD.
9.
GoughH. G. (1960) Theory and measurement of socialization. J. of Consult. Psychol.24, 23–30.
10.
GudjonssonG. H. (1982) The nature of shoplifting in Iceland. Forensic Sci. Int.19, 209–16.
11.
HodgsonR. J.RachmanS. (1977) Obsessional-Compulsive Complaints. Behaviour, Research and Therapy, 15, 389–95.
12.
KeutzerC. (1972) Kleptomania: a direct approach to treatment. Brit. J. Med. Psychol.45, 159–63.
13.
OsgoodC. E.SuciG. J.TannenbaumP. H. (1957) The Measurement of Meaning. Urbana, Ill., University of Illinois Press.
