tell the child that stealing is wrong. help the youngster to pay for or return the stolen object. make sure that the child does not benefit from the theft in any way. avoid lecturing, predicting future bad behavior, or saying that they now consider the child to be a thief or a bad person.
Children in this age group may continue to steal because of several factors, including the following: They may feel peer pressure and the need to fit in. They may have low self-esteem. They may not have any friends and may be trying to "buy" their friends.
Further punishment, particularly physical punishment, is not necessary and could make a child or teen angry and more likely to engage in even worse behavior. Kids of all ages need to know that shoplifting isn't just about taking things from a store — it's taking money from the people who run the businesses.
Provide Consequences
Aim to connect the consequence to what they stole, and ideally, they should be aware of what will happen if they steal before the behavior occurs. For example, a child who constantly takes their siblings' favorite toys without permission may benefit from having to loan their toys to a sibling.
Stealing may cause the release of dopamine — another neurotransmitter. Dopamine causes pleasurable feelings, and some people seek this rewarding feeling again and again. The brain's opioid system. Urges are regulated by the brain's opioid system.
Kleptomania is a mental health condition where a person feels an overpowering, irresistible urge to steal things. People who have this disorder know that stealing is wrong and could get them into trouble, but they can't stop themselves.
If you are found guilty of a theft crime, the conviction could result in many consequences, including fines, incarceration, probation, and a criminal record. Furthermore, a criminal record could have serious repercussions that affect the rest of your life.
Kids might turn kleptomaniacs because of peer pressure, their desire to get something or just the pleasure of picking up things without paying. If you catch your child developing this habit, it is better to not accuse him and teach him politely why it is wrong.
Doctors aren't sure what causes ADHD. But they do know that kids who have it find it hard to control their impulses. And, they may often engage in risky behaviors like aggressive play, ignoring rules, running off, lying, and stealing.
There are a number of reasons why a teen may be stealing including fitting in, attention or they feel they need an item that they know parents may not buy them. Teen who are lying could be because they do not want to get into trouble, to protect themselves or to avoid a conversation with their parents.
Based on the ethical dilemma, it is morally right to save life compared to letting the individual die. Stealing is universally immoral but a necessary evil when it comes to a situation of life and death. The choice of stealing a loaf of bread is less expensive than losing someone's life.
Both cases had improvement in stealing behavior after methylphenidate treatment. Kleptomania is defined as an impulse control disorder and the impulsivity is one of the main symptoms of the syndrome of ADHD. Dopaminergic systems have been implicated in impulsivity and impulse control disorders.
Psychoanalytic theories link compulsive stealing to childhood trauma and neglectful or abusive parents, and stealing may symbolize repossessing the losses of childhood.
A person with kleptomania typically begins showing symptoms in their late teens or early adult years. The average onset age of kleptomania is 17 years old, but about one-third of people diagnosed with kleptomania report that they started showing symptoms of the disorder as children, some as young as five years old.
Sometimes, a child may steal as a show of bravery to friends, or to give presents to family or friends or to be more accepted by peers. Children may also steal because they might not want to depend on anyone, so they take what they feel they need.
According to Psychology Today, people may shoplift for various reasons with most of them not relating at all to a lack of money or a need for the item being taken. A couple common reasons include an addiction to stealing and a mental disorder that encourages the behavior.
The habitual thief may appear to suffer from a compulsion (“kleptomania”). He may be seen as resorting to stealing as a way to “feel better” while coping with depression or adverse circumstances over which he has no control. Perhaps a person steals to boost his self-esteem.
Shoplifting and Depression
Shoplifting is oftentimes due to depression. Many scholarly studies have linked depression and other mental issues and shoplifting.
What Symptoms Should Parents Look for? There are four basic types of behavior that characterize conduct disorder: Physical aggression (such as cruelty toward animals, assault or rape). Violating others' rights (such as theft or vandalism).
Psychological trauma, particularly at a young age, could trigger the development of kleptomania and other impulse control disorders. Stress contributes to loss of impulse control, and even if it does not directly cause kleptomania, it could worsen the condition. Genetics may also play a role.