Why people shoplift

The news that a former Green MP has been accused of shoplifting for a fifth time has seen a sudden flurry of articles seeking to explain or excuse it, saying it must be a psychological disorder.

Now it is true that there is often a psychological factor in shoplifting, but is is far far more complex than just declaring they must be a kleptomaniac.

Psychology Today profiles 16 types of shoplifters. They are:

  1. The Externalizer: These are people who feel that they are not in control of their lives
  2. The Compulsive
  3. The Atypical Shoplifter
  4. The Kleptomaniac
  5. The Thrill Seeker
  6. The Trophy Shoplifter: tend to need to have the best of everything
  7. The Binge-Spree Shoplifter
  8. The Equalizer: shoplifting was “retaliatory justification” for such past events
  9. The Situational Shoplifter
  10. The Professional
  11. The Impoverished [Economically Disadvantaged] Shoplifter
  12. The Provisional/Delinquent Shoplifter
  13. The Drug or Alcohol Addict
  14. The Alzheimer’s Sufferer/Amnesiac
  15. The Chemically/Alcohol Driven Shoplifter
  16. The Inadvertent/Amateur Shoplifter

Unless you are a clinical psychologist who has interviewed the shoplifter, you really should not put forward theories as to what is driving the behaviour.

Comments (25)

Login to comment or vote

Add a Comment