Comparison Between
Kleptomania
and Addictive-Compulsive Stealing
True kleptomania
has traditionally been viewed as a
very rare condition, though Dr. Marcus
Goldman, in his 1997 book Kleptomania
(New Horizon Press), tries to expand
upon the definition to include more
persons.
I named our support
group C.A.S.A. (Cleptomaniacs And
Shoplifters Anonymous) to include
not only shoplifters, but people who
embezzle, steal from others or from
their workplace, or who are engaged
in any other kind of repeated forms
of fraud.
I figured the term
kleptomaniac is generally understood,
therefore, as "someone who steals
a lot but not particularly for the
monetary gain". C.A.S.A. also
created the acronym which, in Spanish,
means "home" ("casa").
Since 1992, roughly 90% of C.A.S.A.
members are people who steal addictive-compulsively;
kleptomaniacs steal more impulsively.
Note the differences. (Kleptomania
is defined as in DSM IV.) For more
distinctions, see the Differing
Types.
KLEPTOMANIA |
ADDICTIVE-
COMPULSIVE THEFT |
- Recurrent failure to resist
impulses to steal objects
not needed for personal use
or their monetary value (no
premeditation)
|
- Recurrent failure to resist
obsessive, addictive, or compulsive
thoughts/urges to steal objects
which often are used even
if not needed (degrees of
premeditation).
|
- Increasing sense of tension
immediately before committing
the theft.
|
- Already ever-present tension
usually well before commission
of the theft.
|
- Pleasure or relief at the
time of committing the theft
(often not fully aware of
committing the theft and usually
no guilt after)
|
- Pleasure/relief at time
of or just after committing
theft (more conscious of act
than kleptomaniac and usually
feels guilt or shame after)
|
- The stealing is not committed
to express anger or vengeance.
|
- The stealing is very often
an acting out of anger or
a way of trying to "make
life right"
|
- The stealing is not due
to Conduct Disorder or Antisocial
Personality Disorder.
|
- Same. Most people who steal
are good/caring/law-abiding
(some get cross-addicted or
get addicted to dollars or
thrills)
|
|
