New Zealand MP quits over shoplifting allegations: Can stress lead to kleptomania?

Sex scandals, political corruption and crimes… Most often these are the reasons why a lawmaker or minister resigns or is forced to quit. In New Zealand, however, an MP has quit with immediate effect following accusations of shoplifting. Golriz Ghahraman — a New Zealand Green party MP and its justice spokesperson — who made history as the first refugee to be elected to New Zealand’s parliament has resigned over alleged shoplifting allegations, saying she had fallen short of the standards expected of politicians. Interestingly, she has attributed her “unexplainable behaviour” to work-related stress, adding that while she was not trying to excuse her actions, she did want to explain them. We take a closer look at Ghahraman’s case of shoplifting allegations and try to decipher if mental stress can actually lead to shoplifting. What New Zealand MP said about shoplifting? Forty-two-year old Ghahraman, who moved to New Zealand from Iran as a child, faces three allegations of shoplifting from boutique clothing shops. While two alleged incidents took place at an Auckland luxury clothing store, the other was from a Wellington high-end clothes retailer. The allegations were first published on 10 January by Newstalk ZB Plus, which reported that Ghahraman had been accused of shoplifting during the festive season from Scotties Boutique, a store specialising in luxury brands in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby. The police confirmed they were investigating an allegation but were unable to confirm any individual identities. And on Tuesday, reacting to the allegations, she resigned with immediate effect. In a statement, she said, “It is clear to me that my mental health is being badly affected by the stresses relating to my work. This has led me to act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them. “People should, rightly, expect the highest standards of behaviour from their elected representatives. I fell short. I’m sorry.” [caption id=“attachment_13620272” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Ghahraman in a statement said that while she wasn’t making excuses for her behaviour, she said that recent stress previously unrecognised trauma led to her “unexplainable behaviour”. Image Courtesy: Golriz Ghahraman/Facebook[/caption] She further added that she understood that she wasn’t well. “The mental health professional I see says my recent behaviour is consistent with recent events giving rise to extreme stress response, and relating to previously unrecognised trauma. “With that in mind, I don’t want to hide behind my mental health problems, and I take full responsibility for my actions which I deeply regret. I have let down a lot of people and I am very sorry. “The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a Member of Parliament and to focus on my recovery and to find other ways to work for positive change in the world.” Ghahraman’s party colleagues, Marama Davidson and James Shaw, extended their sympathy to her, saying that she had been at the receiving end of abuse from the public, including threats of sexual and physical violence and death threats. “If you’re living with that level of threat, in what is already quite a stressful situation, then there are going to be consequences,” Shaw was quoted as telling The Guardian. Can stress cause you to shoplift? Ghahraman’s statement attributing her shoplifting to mental stress has got many people asking if it’s indeed true: can stress lead to shoplifting. Shoplifting remains one of the most common forms of theft. However, it remains a complex behaviour with experts providing several theories to explain it. While some maintain that shoplifting is a form of impulse control disorder, others have noted that depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress can make someone more likely to shoplift as a way of coping with difficult emotions. Psychologists note that in many cases the act of stealing relieves the person of the they are experiencing and they then are able to associate shoplifting with stress relief. This leads to a continuation of their shoplifting. In fact, Terrence Daryl Shulman, the author of Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and Recovery wrote, “Most people who resort to stealing are actually ‘crying for help.’ There’s something amiss, wrong, unresolved, absent.” He further detailed that the top three emotional reasons people shoplift are anger — “to try to make life fair”, grief — “to fill the void due to a loss”, and depression — “to distract from sadness”. [caption id=“attachment_13620292” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Many health experts maintain that shoplifting is a form of impulse control disorder. There are others who note that depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress can make someone more likely to shoplift as a way of coping with difficult emotions. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay[/caption] Even the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP), a US based NGO that deals with shoplifters, has said that stealing is a maladaptive coping technique — similar to drinking or binge eating — in response to anxiety and stress. Many shoplifters when asked why they indulge in stealing have responded that their mood enhances when they indulge in the act. Psychologists note that this is because shoplifting leads to a release of dopamine, also known as the ‘feel good’ hormone. So when a person is stressed and want to feel good, they indulge in behaviours such as shoplifting. This has been echoed by Adam Borland, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Behavioral Health. He was quoted as telling the Washington Post that “many individuals who shoplift experience a pleasurable rush of dopamine throughout the body, similar to other addictive behaviours, and seek to feel that pleasure again and again.” In a BBC report, a woman identified as Jane said that she resorted to shoplifting when she feels stressed. A teacher by profession, the resident of the UK said, “When the cost-of-living crisis began, trying to find food that was actually enjoyable got more and more complicated. Also, my job, particularly at the moment, is pretty stressful. Education is in a bit of a state, and teachers bear the brunt of it. So, I do feel that stress has got a lot to do with it.” Is there a cure to shoplifting? So can one be treated for shoplifting? Mental health experts say that there are treatment programs to help with this problem. Many mental health experts recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for shoplifting. They observe that CBT provides the tools to regain control over impulses. It helps to recognise the triggers and emotions that underlie the stealing behaviour. And then gives the the skills to manage the impulse and manage the behaviour. Some also recommend in finding emotional outlets such as writing or exercising. Find new ways to distract, entertain and amuse yourself, experts note. With inputs from agencies