As a counselor both in class and online stop theft classes I am always interested in the motivation as to why my students decided to shoplift. You will not be surprised that there are a plethora of reasons, but one stands above all others.
#1 Reason People Shoplift
The number one reason why people steal is "TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING."
It is human nature to like getting things for free. As a result stores are constantly promoting “huge blowout sales” to generate excitement about getting a bargain. The majority don't cross the line and steal the item. With more than $35 million lifted every day, some people surely do. The big question is why?
For most shoplifters, getting something for nothing is like giving themselves a gift or reward, which in turn gives them a "lift." For those with serious shoplifting problems they the need for a "lift" just to get through the week or even the day.
A recent study found that shopping was second only to eating out as the primary way people reward themselves. Taking it one step further and you can see how "shoplifting" the merchandise increases the reward.
Getting Something for Nothing
It’s important to understand the mind frame of a thief - that “getting something for nothing” always represents something more than the value of the merchandise. For different people it can represent any of the following things:
- It’s a “substitute for loss” because they perceived they were unfairly deprived in some way (i.e., a divorce, a serious illness, death of a loved one, loss of income from a job or investments, or an unexpected expense which can cause people to feel needy). Stealing a bottle of shampoo, for example, can temporarily help to relieve the anxiety about their financial situation and gives them a feeling that they are more in control.
- It can be a "justified payback" for all they give to others and how little they get back in return.
- For some, it's a "relief mechanism" for anxiety, frustration, boredom or depression.
Happy Birthday?
Several studies have found diagnosed depression to exist in about one out of every three of the shoplifters studied. Depression was the most frequently found physiological problem.
This helps to explain why many shoplifters steal from stores on their birthday and around holiday times. Many who shoplift perceive the act as a form of self nourishment, as a way to relieve fear or pain in their life. However, the opposite is true, shoplifting is self – destructive.
The Coping Mechanism
For almost all non - professional shoplifters, stealing from stores is basically a reflection of a person's ability (or inability) to cope with a multitude of situations in his or her life. It’s a response to their personal life situations. While these unhappy life situations may not easily be changed (or may recur from time to time) shoplifters must learn how to cope with these situations in a way that’s not harmful to themselves or others. This may not be easy to achieve, because approximately 27 percent of shoplifters caught for the first time have already developed a shoplifting habit or even an addiction. Many admit that it will be difficult for them to stop shoplifting - even after getting caught.
Addiction Comes Fast
A person's addiction to shoplifting can develop quickly when the excitement generated from "getting away with it" produces a chemical reaction resulting in what shoplifters describe as an incredible "rush”, which many shoplifters will tell you is the "true reward," rather than the merchandise itself.
In addition to feeling good, shoplifters quickly observe this "high" temporarily eliminates their feelings of anger, frustration, depression or other unhappiness in their life. Realizing how easy it is to get that "high" feeling, they are pulled toward doing it again..."just one more time"...and their addiction begins to develop. Even though most non – professional shoplifters feel guilty, ashamed or remorseful about what they did, and are fearful of getting caught, the pull is too strong for many to resist.
It Truly Is An Addiction
Of course, some people don't see shoplifting as a functional or psychological problem. They say, "What do you mean that a person can't stop shoplifting? Of course they can, they're just greedy.” The idea that shoplifting is an addiction, “except for a few kleptomaniacs,” is ridiculous, they say. “People who shoplift should go to jail and not be coddled or told they have an addiction.” This is like telling them it's okay to steal because they really can't help it.
The irony is that most shoplifters who have developed a habit or addiction believe they should be punished according to the law when caught. What offenders often resent, however, is when they are simply thrown into jail with hardened career criminals and are not given the help or support they need to help prevent them from repeating the offense.
Teen Shoplifting
Shoplifting among teens is quite similar to adult shoplifting. However, the primary issues related to shoplifting among youth revolve around family, school and peer pressures.
While teens, like adults, usually know the difference between right and wrong, when their life becomes too stressful they become more vulnerable to temptation, peer pressure and other things that can lead them to shoplift. This is especially true when they feel unworthy, angry, depressed, unattractive or not accepted.