The impulsive, compulsive, addictive stealing of unneeded objects. The person feels an increased sense of tension before and gratification or relief after the theft.
A neurosis characterized by compulsive stealing.
A form of mental disorder in which someone has a compulsive desire to steal things, even things of little value.
Compulsion to steal. The objects are usually taken, not for their monetary value or need, but for their symbolic meaning associated with some emotional conflict; they are often returned or hidden. Treatment usually involves psychotherapy to uncover the underlying emotional problems.
A rare mental illness characterized by a compulsive, uncontrollable desire to steal. Objects are not stolen because of monetary value and may in fact be worth little, indicating that a person with kleptomania does not intend to be criminal. A person with kleptomania feels a buildup of tension that is released when he or she steals, but the person often feels remorseful after the theft. The stealing is usually not planned in advance. A person with kleptomania may steal in obvious ways, with little concern about apprehension or legal consequences. The person is often caught in the act, possibly signaling a desire to be noticed and treated. The disorder usually begins in childhood or adolescence, may continue throughout life, and is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and bulimia.
A pathologically strong impulse to steal, often in the absence of any desire for the stolen objects. It is sometimes associated with depression.
A compulsion to steal, often expressed by the repeated theft of meaningless or economically worthless objects.
Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder characterized by the compulsion to steal items of negligible or insignificant value.
A persistent inability to resist the urge to steal, even when there’s no genuine desire for the stolen items, often indicates an underdeveloped personality. It can also be linked to depression, and in some cases, may stem from dementia or certain types of brain injuries.
An unhealthy urge to steal, characterized by compulsive theft; a mental condition marked by an intense desire to steal. The items stolen typically hold little material worth but carry symbolic significance.