Elimination of stealing by self-reinforcement of alternative behavior and family contracting

Psychopathy as a Predictor Variable of The Disposition to Steal

“…For instance, Levy (1934), Menaker (1939), Tiebout (1930) and Tiebout and Kirkpatrick (1939) approached theft from a psychoanalytic standpoint while Henderson (1981), Luiselli and Pine (1999), Stumphauzer (1976) and Wetzel (1966) used behavioral techniques in an attempt to find ways to reduce it in specific cases, achieving encouraging results. Much research has also been done and several models have been developed on theft and, in general, on antiproductive work behavior, taking into account different personality characteristics (Berry, Ones, & Sackett, 2007;Mount, Ilies, & Johnson, 2006;Mustaine & Tewksbury, 2002;Spector, 2011;Spector & Fox, 2005); to date, few studies have investigated the predictive power of the affective dimension (e.g., shallow affect, callousness, and lack of empathy/remorse) and the interpersonal dimension (e.g., grandiosity, lying) of psychopathy on future criminal behavior and, in particular, on theft (Kahn, Byrd, & Pardini, 2013;Walters, Knight, Grann, & Dahle, 2008).…”

Children's Stealing

“…These authors employed a multiplebaseline design to investigate the effects of two types of classroom interventions, an anti-stealing lecture and a group contingency, on stealing. Stumphauzer (1976) successfully eliminated stealing behavior of a five-year duration in a 12-year-old girl. The group contingency, however, in which children were rewarded with extra free time for no theft, were allowed normal free time if stolen items were returned, and were punished with loss of free time if stolen items were not returned, eliminated stealing.…”

Advances in the psychological treatment of delinquent behaviour*

“…There are similarities between PMT and FIT but in the latter the emphasis is more explicitly focused on family interaction. A number of studies have used contingency contracting as a means of changing family interaction in cases of young offenders, with success in reducing offending (Stumphauzer, 1976;Welch, 1985). Other studies have used a broader range of techniques: Henderson (1981), for instance, used behavioural, cognitive and FFT methods in a programme that was successful in reducing stealing, while Alexander and Parsons (1973) used skills training, contingency contracting and problem-solving training to improve family interaction.…”