Arson Profile

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. Wh

Related Essays

Arson & Pyromania .... 1-10. "Arson and Juveniles." USFA. .... Rochester, NY, 1986. Holt, FX "The Arsonist's Profile." Viewed on Dec 6, 2004: http://www.google.com, 2000, pp. .... (1130 5 )

The Criminal Mind .... 1-10. "Arson and Juveniles." USFA. .... Rochester, NY, 1986. Holt, FX "The Arsonist's Profile." Viewed on Dec 6, 2004: http://www.google.com, 2000, pp. .... (1132 5 )

Gangs and Gang Violence .... 2002). Bomb and Arson Crimes Among American Gang Members: A Behavioral Science Profile. National Gang Crime Research Center. Retrieved .... (1281 5 )

Examining Biological Evidence at a Crime Scene .... though the process is now fully automated so that a full genetic profile of a .... focuses on the use of illicit drugs, but also for evidence of arson and explosive .... (1923 8 )

The Death Penalty in a Civil Society .... the 1860s, only four crimes--murder, piracy, treason, and arson--carried the .... High-profile exoneration of persons wrongfully convicted and placed on death row .... (2549 10 )

ho has been adopted into a family. He is thought to be guilty of setting a number of fires in the local vicinity. The book's young antagonist mirrors the psychological profile of the adolescent arsonist in that he exhibits feelings of low self-worth and poor self-esteem, he feels isolated and alone because of being adopted, and his uneducated, poverty-ridden environment causes him further stress which he is thought to gain relief from by setting fires. As one critic says of the book's author "Willis is able to depict the boy's internal conflicts over his feelings about his adopted family and his real family" (Renner, 2000, 112). Thus, we can see that this author's perspective fits into the psychological profile and socio-economic characteristics of the typical adolescent arsonist. Many of the children reported to be arsonists in the literature were found to be motivated by something other than curiosity. Most often, children who commit arson are reacting to a need for help or attention, children who often life in difficult circumstances and lack support networks. Grolnick (et al., 1990, 128) found that the majority of children who commit arson "do not possess appropriate or effective communication skills; their personal obs

Category: Psychology - A