Shoplifting is common, but money is rarely the motive. A forensic psychologist explains the common factors that motivate some shoplifters.
When you clutch your pearls and widen your eyes Golriz Ghahraman's shoplifting allegations surfaced last week.As a member of parliament, Mr. Gahraman's income is approximately $200,000 Her alleged crime of stealing $15,000 worth of designer goods is unimaginably difficult. She may have walked away without stopping at the register, but the price she paid in the end was her fall from grace and… Resignation – It was very, very expensive.
Shoplifting is one of the most common crimes in the world.in new zealand 92% of retailers experience retail crimes, primarily shoplifting, which cost them more than $1 billion annually. In the United States, 1 in 11 people I admit that I claimed the five-finger discount at least once. In England, Shoplifting is at an all-time high, especially among the middle class. The increase comes as a result of the cost of living crisis, but many people are opting for luxuries rather than stealing necessities. Not being able to afford things does not seem to be a major factor for most shoplifters. a study Only 7% of shoplifters were motivated by financial disadvantage, indicating they had planned it and did not regret the theft. It has been reported that wealthy people steal items such as toothpaste, gold-plated hair dryers, designer clothing, and corned beef.
Retail theft by wealthy individuals is a growing phenomenon and has been referred to as “.senseless shoplifting”. But just because it's happening more and has a catchy name doesn't mean it makes sense. Why would they steal if they take such a big risk?
Dr Hedwig Eisenbarth, a forensic psychology expert at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, says there are many reasons why people shoplift, but many of them aren't about money. While it's impossible to understand a criminal's motivations from the outside, or even from the inside, there are some factors that tend to be common to thefts by wealthy individuals, Eisenbarth said. says. Below is a non-exhaustive list.
they can't resist
Shoplifting can be an impulsive act, an unplanned reaction in which the person has diminished control, Eisenbarth said. In extreme cases, this may be kleptomania. This is a disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to steal things that people don't need and usually have little value. We might think of theft as an addiction, similar to alcoholism or gambling addiction.
The same is true for shoplifters. want To steal? “Wishing is a difficult word,” Eisenbarth says. “This sounds like someone was intentionally doing this on purpose, but it's not. [to] a person who acts impulsively [and] Not planned. ” According to her, impulsive behavior has short-term factors and long-term effects are ignored. Which brings me to my next point…
to fill the gap
Apparently, shoplifting can be a fun activity that gives you a thrill, a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of control, just like solving puzzles or doing your favorite hobby. It is said that when people feel good after doing something, they tend to do the same thing again. Eisenwald. Pleasant activities also reduce negative emotions, such as those caused by stress, for example. The stress of receiving death threats.
in Research on shoplifters In the United States, nearly one-third had a past marked by loss and trauma. They were also atypical offenders in that they tended to be law-abiding and have traditional values, except for shoplifting. Although the researchers did not want to make claims about subconscious motivations, the prevalence of past losses is noteworthy. An additional 18% of participants experienced acute depression, leading researchers to wonder if they shoplifted because they were feeling something other than depression.
I want to be cool
This is more relevant to young people who are testing boundaries and acutely feeling social pressure.They say shoplifting can be part of a developmental stage. Eisenwald.
it's normal for them
Not all wealthy people have always been wealthy. They say they may have grown up in an environment where shoplifting was a survival mechanism, so it became normal and they continued the pattern of behavior. Eisenwald.
right
Several studies on the effects of wealth, power, and privilege have found that wealthy people tend to steal more than poor people.in one study People were given a jar of candy and told they could drink it now before the jar was given to the children. The rich had more candy for themselves. The researchers hypothesized that, simply put, they could demonstrate that having more resources and freedom leads to more selfish tendencies.
“Some people may think that some rules don't apply to them,” he says. Eisenwald. This is a way of getting around the world that leads wealthy people to white-collar crimes such as fraud, but it also applies to shoplifting. There is some truth to this, money can act like a shield against consequences.
We want to understand shoplifters in neat little headings; Eisenwald warns against this. She says you should try not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions too quickly. Humans are complex, and so is psychology. “That's the beauty of psychology.”
