NCJ Number
101221
Date Published
1985
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Three categories of shoplifters can be distinguished: those for whom the theft involves a specific, identifiable gain; those whose acts are bizarre or involve little gain and who exhibit clearly evident psychopathology; and those whose psychopathology is subtle and who can only be identified by intensive psychiatric and psychological assessment.
Abstract
Data and case history material from a study of 17 women and 7 men who fit into this last category show that they had seldom participated in shoplifting before and were upstanding, and even prominent members, of their communities. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory results for this sample showed elevated depression and psychopathic (particularly the women) scale scores. Coincidental with their offenses, 74 percent of the sample had experienced losses in their life situations, and 30 percent had had contemporaneous experience with cancer. Results suggest that for these offenders, the shoplifting is a reaction to unusual stress and represents a regressive and symbolic act reflecting retributive or manipulative motivations. Implications for judicial and clinical handling of such cases are discussed. A transcript of a clinical interview with one of the subjects is included. 17 references.