What defines the experience of individuals with kleptomania just before a theft?

The experience of individuals with kleptomania just before a theft is characterized by heightened tension leading to the act. This tension is often described as an overwhelming urge to steal, which can create significant anxiety or distress. The individual may feel a growing sense of excitement or anticipation in the moments leading up to the theft, coupled with a struggle to resist the impulse. This culminates in the act of theft itself, which is not motivated by the need for the stolen item but rather by the compulsion associated with the disorder.

In contrast, feelings of calmness and clarity would not accurately reflect the emotional state that individuals with kleptomania typically experience prior to a theft. Indifference to the consequences does not encapsulate the emotional turmoil or distress experienced; rather, kleptomania involves a conflict between the impulse to steal and awareness of the consequences. Lastly, a sudden burst of energy is not reflective of the anticipatory tension that precedes a theft in this disorder. Thus, heightened tension is a defining aspect of the kleptomaniac’s experience leading up to the act.