Psychology of kleptomania

If talking in a simple words, kleptomania is a strong desire to steal. Kleptomaniacs are tend to steal things that has little or no value to them - even if they totally don't need it. It means that this disorder involves the compulsive stealing of items not needed for their monetary value.

Kleptomania is relatively rare problem (studies suggest that fewer than 5% of population suffer from this disorder) and it occurs more often in women that in men. Many kleptomaniacs are first discovered in the act of shoplifting. Sometimes such people can avoid shopping centers and even isolate themselves in order to escape from stealing. As other normal people they feel quilt and shame after the accident, but they can't manage with the stealing desire.

There are few of criteria that could help to diagnose kleptomania:

1. The individual fails to resist from stealing things that has no value for him/her.
   
2. The individual feels tension before stealing.
3. The individuals tension is reduced when he/she can steal something.
4. Other psychological disorders can't account for the individual's stealing behavior.

Research has also shown that kleptomania is strongly associated with mood, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse. There are still no particular treatment of kleptomania. To sum up, researchers should keep more of attention to this disorder, because some people can be found arrested in jail although they should be in the hospital.

Resources:
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/problems/impulse_control.html
http://health.howstuffworks.com/kleptomania.htm

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