Character defects (personality disorders), not mental illnesses, were the predominant form of pathology according to guidelines in DSM-III. Financial benefit was the primary motivation in 67.7 percent of the cases. Economic disadvantage appeared to be a contributing factor in 72 percent of the adult chronic shoplifters. Mental illnesses were distributed about equally between genders. However, nearly twice as many women were experiencing psychosocial stressors. The recommended treatment intervention is short-term crisis counseling followed by education which encourages the offender to admit that shoplifting is a crime and to consider the realistic consequences of additional shoplifting. One table and 11 references are given. (Author abstract modified)