Yesterday someone said that quite a few people with PDD-NOS tend to steal. It was during an aftermeeting where people attended that were on the spectrum, or related to people on the spectrum.
No-one seemed surprised. I had never heard of this. Does anyone else have information on this?
I put this under diagnosis. Because it was told as if it was a quite common co-morbity.
I doubt it. Stealers also have to be good liars, and I'm crap at lying even when I'm expected to and everyone is fine that I'm 'playing the game' or something stupid, it's just not something I can do for long without having a nervous breakdown and hating everyone who pushed me into that false position. The last time I really lied like that, I felt like I was becoming a multiple personality disorder person and I went nuts. I can't see anyone like me lying and stealing.
Not out of choice anyways, and not without loosing thier marbles.
Not out of choice anyways, and not without loosing thier marbles.
I wonder if this goes along with the belief that those with AS lack empathy.
I used to steal, when I was a kid.
But if I could sense a victim, I felt bad (such as stealing from a sibling, versus a store).
So I obviously felt empathy (not to be confused with ability to express empathy).
I stole once when I was a kid. Dad made me return it and apologize to the store owner. I was mortified. That cured me.
My NT sis had quite a habit of telling lies that got her in no end of trouble. Unfortunately, after she reformed nobody trusted anything she said, even after adulthood. I never was the sort to lie. Mom used to brag that I never spoke anything that wasn't the truth when I was a kid.
So no, I never heard of stealing being a comorbid.
I wouldn't steal. I once chased a person who dropped $10 to give it back to them.
When I was a kid I remember stealing a My Little Pony that I really wanted. I told my mum that a nice old lady gave it to me. She obviously didn't believe me and I got in big trouble, but I was already out in the car park so she just confiscated it and gave it to me for Christmas. I still have it, but I don't remember stealing again after that.
I've stolen alot and I've even committed burglaries. When I was 19 I hooked up with a younger, but much more experienced thief and burglar, and did some burglaries. One attempted one led to us being nicked by police but those charges were dropped. We were interrogated for another burglary and ended up in court. I got 2 years on a suspended sentence. Later the same year (1985) I was in the process of breaking into a place when I noticed that someone saw me and I just dropped the screwdriver and walked away, thinking I must be out of my mind. Finally it got to me on a gut level. I think that was the end of my career as a criminal.
My hubby would not steal anything. He is extremely law abiding. In fact, my stepfather tends to stop in another theatre when we are at the movies, waiting for our movie to start. My hubby considers that like stealing and refuses to go in. So, nope, not for him!
I think the problem might be that people translate "lack of empathy" to mean cold blooded and without any conscience. Last night I heard a public radio discussion on why there is such an increase of knife crime in London, especially among teens. They said it was because todays teens are desensitized due to violent video games, etc. and that they have no awareness of the victim's feelings. On one hand, I see the point and how that must seem frightening. On the other hand, being unable to read minds or translate social cues, or "feel" somebody else's emotions does not directly translate to being a potential axe murderer. Behavior is governed by a number of factors.
I have a close friend who has an asperger's diagnosis who shoplifted once, because she was fascinated by these shiny buttons and she "had to" have them. She said she didn't even think about it, she just did it. She got caught, though.
I've also shoplifted once or twice; I'm a bit of an opportunist. If there's (for example) something I want that is small and will fit in a pocket, and no one is around, and the thing is easy to get out of it's package or is already out, and if the store is one of those big chains and not a local store, then I just slip it into my pocket and go. But I've only done it twice, and I'd never do anything "bigger" or "worse" than that.
I guess I don't really care much about laws, except that I don't want to get arrested. I don't break tons of laws; I have my own set of morals and rules that I follow, which happen to coincide with the law a lot. But I do break "little" laws like jaywalking and that sort of thing, and I think if I thought it was the right thing to do I'd break more serious laws. But in general I try not to.
If I'm out biking without bringing the battery lamps and it gets dark I walk home regardless of how far away I am. I follow all traffic rules strictly. I do jaywalk but only if there's no children in plain sight; I don't want to be a bad example.
If I'm out biking without bringing the battery lamps and it gets dark I walk home regardless of how far away I am. I follow all traffic rules strictly. I do jaywalk but only if there's no children in plain sight; I don't want to be a bad example.
Here I go, off on a rant again, but be careful jaywalking. A friend of mine was jaywalking and was hit by a bicycle messenger and knocked to the ground. Broke her wrist and had to have surgery, was out for several weeks. Not just the cars to watch out for!