Teenage Shoplifter Caught Red-handed
Teenager, Geoffrey Mcwicker, was caught red-handed shoplifting at the newly-opened MiniMall on the weekend. His parents, teachers and friends have all expressed their shock and disbelief at his behavior. Geoffrey is a successful sophomore student, popular among his peers, and also liked by his teachers. So, what went wrong? Why would a popular, successful and seemingly happy teenager with no criminal record suddenly start shoplifting?
According to psychologists, this kind of unexpected behavior is becoming more common among the youth of today. Our resident psychologist, Dr. Claire Partridge, explains some of the possible reasons for this.
Jack: What motivates a teenager to suddenly turn to crime?
Claire: Well, there are a number of different reasons for anyone to commit a petty crime. Perhaps, the most obvious one is monetary motivation. We don’t know all the details about the McWicker case, but it is possible that the simple desire to own something he couldn’t afford, must have motivated him to steal. He might have been envious of the material possessions that his friends possess. He may have lost a part- time job, and therefore, lost his main source of income. If teenagers cannot control their desires, it can lead to this kind of trouble.
Jack: What else may have motivated Geoffrey?
Claire: Another possibility is social influence. Studies show that some teenage shoplifters commit a crime to project a deviant image. Mcwicker might have been fed up with his good¬boy image. He may have wanted to impress his peers with his behavior. Sometimes popular students suffer extreme stress trying to live up to their perfect image, and this can lead to anti¬social behavior such as petty crime.
Jack: That’s fascinating, Claire. I’ve also heard that there is a mental illness that leads people to steal or shoplift. There have even been stories in the newspapers of rich and famous movie stars being caught shoplifting. Could that be a result of a mental illness?
Claire: That’s a good question, Jack. Thank you. Yes, some psychological conditions can lead people to petty crime. Kleptomania is the illness you are referring to. People suffering from this condition, get irresistible urges to steal. These people get a sense of exhilaration when committing a crime, but they can be helped if they receive the appropriate therapy at the right time.
We can only speculate about what caused Geoffrey Mcwicker to turn to shoplifting. However, we do know that teenagers are under increasing stress these days, and that cases such as this one are becoming more prevalent. If you would like to make any comments, please join us on our current blog on this subject.