Parallels with shoplifters

I am not a shoplifter, never have been, and I am repulsed by the thought of it. But I was thinking about this recently -- what other addiction would gambling be similar to? It came to my mind -- shoplifting! Both gamblers and shoplifters want something for nothing. Both groups are looking for a high. Most shoplifters have enough money to purchase goods, but they like the thrill of the theft. Most gamblers have enough money to live decent lives, without trying to reach for more through gambling.

So I read up on shoplifters. I found this interesting; they have "an acute sense of deprivation." I for one, can relate to that! The deprivation described in the article is not necessarily that they grew up in material poverty, it could be other kinds of deprivation. I could relate to that, too. In my home life as a child there was enough food, clothes to wear and money to pay for shelter, electricity and gas for our car. It's just that my parents were "running on empty" themselves, with unmet childhood needs, and they were trying to raise six kids. There was not enough time, attention, or knowledge on their parts. Some of my father's behavior was very harmful to our family. I think that most of us compulsive gamblers have a deep sense of loss.

For me, uncovering information, understanding why I would turn to something as strange and self-destructive as gambling, is helpful.

I think you are essentially correct - problems often arise (such as gambling addiction) due to a basis in something deeply historical and psychological.

Essentially this is what we'd probably call a Psychodynamic approach - Freudian in other words.

Past needs, losses etc get stored up and eventually come out as actions, thoughts and general problems!

-- Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:31 am --

An interesting question is why they come out as something specific - eg gambling, shoplifting.

And a further question is once we might know it, whether it could be solved better as a problem - in essence, the therapy question.