Why Usually Honest People Steal: Understanding, Treating and Stopping Nonsensical Shoplifting and Other Bizarre Theft Behavior

For over 39 years, psychologist Dr. Will Cupchik (a life member of the American Psychological Association) has investigated the atypical theft behavior of usually honest and generally well functioning adults (persons Dr Cupchik first termed 'Atypical Theft Offenders' in a major article, in 1985).

Dr Cupchik's work in this fascinating area began when he was employed on the forensic service of the Clarke Institute Of Psychiatry where, from 1984-86, he held the position of Psychologist-in-Charge, Forensic Outpatient Psychological Services. He is the most experienced clinician in this area of forensics; his first published article on this subject, entitled, Shoplifting: An Occasional Crime Of The Moral Majority, appeared in the major peer-reviewed journal, The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, in 1983.

This book includes his latest (2013) study's extensive findings that provide keen insights into the sorts of personal histories, personality traits and ways of operating in the world that can help precipitate theft behavior. Also included are unique, practical tools specifically developed by Dr Cupchik to help successfully assess and treat these individuals, including updated and comprehensive versions of the  Cupchik Theft Offender Questionnaire (CTOQ) and Cupchik Theft Offender Spectrum (CTOS). 

One of the most important new findings presented in this book is strongly suggestive evidence that some major antidepressants may help trigger atypical theft behaviour by usually honest persons; these individuals might not have stolen were it not for these medications' side effects (as stated by their manufacturers) of increased hostility, greater aggressivity, disinhibition and acting out, self-defeating behaviour. In fact, 7 of the 30 cases that made up the 2013 study had never shoplifted until shortly after they began using these medications.
In this book the reader will find 14 fascinating composite cases of atypical theft behaviour that help illustrate the clinical findings presented. As well, a major Table summarizes a great deal of personal background and personality data and provides an opportunity for the possible Atypical Theft Offender-reader to compare himself or herself with these cases.

The book offers information about how the potential Atypical Theft Offender may go about determining if he or she may be an Atypical Theft Offender, and offers important psychological concepts that help explain the behaviour. For reasons that are outlined in detail in the book, atypical theft behaviours provide some of the best and clearest illustrations of the impact of our unconscious and subconscious minds in effecting overt and obvious behavior.
This book also outlines the online and in-office Intensive Intervention Programs that Dr Cupchik employs with his own clients.
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This book, Why Usually Honest People Steal, may be read on its own and may also be considered, in effect, Volume Two. His earlier book, Why Honest People Shoplift Or Commit Other Acts Of Theft, the revised edition of which was published eleven years earlier, may be considered to be Volume One. Together they will provide the reader with the most comprehensive information on this topic and Dr Cupchik's nearly four decades of clinical investigation of this area of forensic investigation.