Abstract
D.Ed. (Psychology Of Education)
The writer's personal experience as educational adviser at a TED aid centre shows that theft amongst
children often occurs. Of significance is the frequency of theft occuring in younger children. Statistics
obtained from the Central Statistics Service show that theft amongst children in South Africa is
reaching alarming proportions.
Theft is one of the misdemanours of a child that is commonly not handled pedagogically correctly by
the parent It may well be that people steal due to a physical need, however, the reason for theft by
children is more complex and profound than mere physical need. Before therapeutic action can be
taken, it is imperative that some attempt be made to get to know the child better.
This study includes a literature study as well as an empirical investigati m. Within the framework of
the literature study, an attempt is made to gain perspective on the problem of theft by children.
Attention is given to information obtained from literature pertaining to tl e child who steals in respect
of contributory causes: personality theory, learning theories and personality development theories; a
short discussion of the child in the senior primary and junior secondary school phases; as well as the
treatment of the child who steals.
The empirical investigation includes the pedo- and psycho-diagnostic testing of a number of children
that steal. By means of case studies an attempt is made to uncover those factors that cause these
children to steal. For this purpose school children in the senior primary and junior secondary school
phases who had been reported to TED aid centres on the East Rand for theft behaviour were included
in this investigation. Information was obtained by using the form which is completed upon reporting
to the centre; the results of selective tests; interviews with the child's parents or custodians; and
discussion with the child himself or herself. The analysis of the case studies is largely qualitative,
although it includes quantitive facets as well...