What is a hallmark characteristic of kleptomania?

The hallmark characteristic of kleptomania is the recurrent failure to resist urges to steal. Individuals with this disorder feel a strong, often irresistible impulse to steal items that are not needed for personal use or monetary gain. This behavior is not driven by anger or vengeance, nor is it to express a different psychological condition; rather, it is a complex impulse-control disorder. People with kleptomania may experience a sense of gratification or relief when they steal, which reinforces the behavior.

The other options reflect different psychological issues that do not align with the specific characteristics of kleptomania. For instance, extreme fear of social situations pertains to social anxiety disorder, deliberate destruction of property may relate to conduct disorder or other types of antisocial behavior, and compulsive overeating followed by guilt is associated with binge-eating disorder. Each of these conditions has distinct diagnostic criteria that differ significantly from the impulsive stealing behavior seen in kleptomania.