In order to understand the profile characteristics of the arsonist, one must have a clear distinction between the arsonist and his or her commonly confused counterpart, the pyromaniac. The pyromaniac has a clinical condition that is directly responsible for his or her firesetting. Arson, on the other hand, is classified as a violent crime. Pyromania is a rate, clinical disorder even among those who set fires. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) labels pyromania an impulse control disorder characterized by the following:
Deliberate and purposeful Firesetting on more than one occasion,
Tension or emotional arousal before the act;
Fascination with, interest in, curiosity about or attraction to fire and its situational context or associated characteristics such as paraphernalia, uses, consequences, exposure to fire and
Intense pleasure, gratification, or relief when setting fires or when witnessing or participating in their aftermath.
The above APA definition of pyromania purposefully eliminates many of the criteria which is exhibited in the behavior and characteristics of the arsonist, such as expression of anger or vengeance. The arsonist, in contrast, often sets fires as a means of revenge or vengeance, both the most common motives for the arsonist (Holt, 2000, 2). More so than pyromania, arson is a complex behavior and it does not easily lend itself to a cause-and-effect dynamic. While arsonists typically offer a reason for setting a fire, these reasons are usually only a contributing factor to the real motives and characteristics of the arsonist that are responsible for the behavior.
The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) has identified the following motives as primary in the behavior of the arsonist:
Revenge. The most common motive, revenge can be directed at a very broad range of targets or a specific individual.
Excitement/Bored. Teenagers looking for something to do ...