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Be sure to watch Dr. Kanner discuss this timely topic this Monday, April 27th @ 8:20am on San Diego 6 News In The Morning.
Background: Surviving
during difficult financial times is anything but an easy task. In
fact, the present recession has negatively effected everyone despite
one's previous financial position. For some however, the manifestation
of how such stressors are managed have led to what is being considered
two national epidemics that have been developing over the past number
of years: shoplifting and employee theft. Over-shopping and
over-spending run a close third and fourth as ways that some try to
"compromise" for such trying times. The underlying causes, not to be
used as excuses, but explanations, are stress and an attempt to produce
some sort of internal soothing. However, with any maladaptive
behavior, the "compromise" makes matters worse, rather than better.
As expected, statistics indicate that retail sales in 2008,
particularly during the holiday season, was the worst reported in many
years. Interestingly however, Internet sales increased from 2007. In
other words, people are still buying, but in different venues.
Perhaps, to save fuel, more people are buying from home than traveling
to the mall. On the other hand however, statistics have found that
there has also been an increase in both shoplifting and employee
theft. One study found that in 2007 both of these conditions rose
sharply suggesting the causes due to: poor economy, increase in
organized theft rings, ease of selling stolen merchandise on the
streets and on the Internet, increases in fraudulent returns, a
reduction in sales floor supervision, a decrease in honesty in our
society, and a "rationalization" that shoplifting is a "victimless
crime". In fact, in 2007, the FBI stated that employee theft was the
fastest growing crime in America based on a study finding that one in
28.2 employees were caught stealing from their employer! The study
cited multiple reasons for this statistic including: the poor economy,
reduction in employee supervision, relaxed hiring standards, and a
decrease in honesty in our society.
To make matters even worse, before the official announcement of a
recession, research has shown that addiction to shopping and spending
have been on the rise. In 2006, a study out of Stanford University
estimated that 6%, or 17 million Americans, are "compulsive buyers" and
that men and women fall equally into this category. Such "keeping up
with the Joneses" has led many researchers to link such "obsessions" to
both increased shopping and eventually, shoplifting. In other words,
"people steal from work to get money to ease their debts and burdens,
or to satisfy an addiction. Add to these findings increased "retail
bargains" such dynamics may intensify these issues causing even more
personal pathology and greater societal concerns.
To combat such realities, everyone needs to realistically consider
these difficult times and make some personal modifications to get
through these trying times. Maintaining optimism at the same time,
based on historical proof that recessions do indeed come to an end,should
help us understand that times will change for the better if people are
both presently careful but continue to work hard and look ahead to
better times. For those who have vulnerabilities to addictions to help
ease stress, professional help may be necessary to help them better
cope with the present trying times and keep them from dipping into even
worse conditions.
Key Points:
1. Over-shopping, over-spending and employee theft have become national epidemics over the past 3 years
2. Pathological behaviors are attempts to cope with internal chaos
3. A "Keeping Up With The Joneses" mentality over the past decade has made matters even worse
4. 6% of the population are considered "compulsive-buyers", shared equally between men and women
5. To break such patterns, people need to be both realistic and
optimistic based on historical trends during and after recessions
Dr. Keith Kanner/ Morning Show HostYour Family Matters
San Diego 6 News In The Morning
San Diego Living Show
2008 Winner: IMedia Parenting Award for Television - Disney, Inc.
2009 Winner: Man Of The Year In Medicine & Healthcare - ABA
Host/Extra Life Changers - EXTRA TV
XETV l Bay City Television, Inc.
8253 Ronson Road, San Diego, CA 92111
(619) 261-2346
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About drkanner
Dr. Kanner is a Licensed Clinical Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychologist and Psychoanalyst with a full time private practice in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at U.C. San Diego and a Clinical Instructor and Supervisor at the San Diego Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. Recently, he has become the Director of Clinical Counseling for La Jolla Country Day School and has been named to the National Board of Directors for KidsKorps, USA. He continues as a Consultant for many public and private schools in San Diego and has also received distinguished teaching awards over the past seven years. He is a published author and a sought after speaker on topics pertaining to childhood, adolescence, and parenthood. He is also presently writing a book for Fox based on his show, Your Family Matters.
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