Profile of Female Firesetters

Abstract

We studied 28 female arsonists and 28 female controls admitted to Holloway Prison over four months to examine the psychological and situational antecedents to firesetting so that the behaviour could be targeted for treatment. Over 92% of the arson group had received a psychiatric diagnosis. Both groups had similarly high rates of early deprivation and abuse. None of the female arsonists had set a fire for financial gain. There was no evidence of sexual arousal being associated with firesetting; only two women described their firesetting in terms that suggest a level of compulsion--one of these was alcoholic, the other was diagnosed as severely personality disordered. Several behavioural and psychological antecedents to offending were identified which could be targeted for treatment: low self-esteem, depression, limited communication skills, and deficits in anger management. The relapse prevention model is suggested as a possible intervention for recidivistic arsonists.

Examining the Relationship between Fire Interest and Firesetting: Contributions of Previous Experience with Fire and Self and Emotional Regulation

“…Other studies have found that both adolescents (Kolko & Kazdin, 1991) and adults (Barnoux et al, 2015;Koson & Dvoskin, 1982) describe multiple co-occurring motives for firesetting. Motivations for engaging in firesetting behaviour have included reasons such as revenge (Bourget & Bradford, 1989;Harmon et al, 1985;Icove & Estepp, 1987;Inciardi, 1970;Lewis & Yarnell, 1951;O'Sullivan & Kelleher, 1987;Rix, 1994;Stewart, 1993;Swaffer & Hollin, 1995;Tennent et al, 1971), excitement (Icove & Estepp, 1987;Inciardi, 1970;Rix, 1994), vandalism (Australian Government, 2005Icove & Estepp, 1987;Inciardi, 1970;Rix, 1994), economic gain (Inciardi, 1970;Molnar et al, 1984), crime concealment (Icove & Estepp, 1987;Swaffer & Hollin, 1995), and communication (Dickens et al, 2009;Geller, 1992;Harmon et al, 1994;Root et al, 2008;Sakheim et al, 1991;Tyler et al, 2014). Self-harm and suicide have also been reported as motives for firesetting among apprehended samples, particularly by adolescent and adult females (Bourget & Bradford, 1989;O'Sullivan & Kelleher, 1987;Roe-Sepowitz & Hickle, 2011;Shakeri et al, 2007;Swaffer & Hollin, 1995).…”

The Multi-Trajectory Theory of Adult Firesetting (M-TTAF)

“…Communication is comprised of basic social skills (including emotional decoding), the ability (and value) placed upon the formation and maintenance of social and intimate relationships, as well as basic assertiveness skills. Research with firesetters highlights cases of impoverished communication in the form of social skills, poor assertiveness, and passivity (Noblett & Nelson, 2001;Rice & Chaplin, 1979;Rice & Harris, 2008;Stewart, 1993). Such problems with adult communications and attachment styles are likely to be experienced by individuals as a result of pathogenic caregiving experiences (Focus Adolescent Services, n.d.; Räsänen et al, 1996) which are hypothesized to interfere with the development of healthy self esteem and general social adjustment (Scarr & Eisenberg, 1993;Shaw et al, 2004).…”

A Comparison of Patients Admitted to Two Medium Secure Units, One for Those of Normal Intelligence and One for Those With Learning Disability

“…The finding of no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the proportion who had carried out acts of fire‐raising or arson is an interesting one. While in clinical practice and in reported personal series or specific situations, those with learning disability are often considered to be more likely to carry out acts of fire‐setting, 12,20,21 there is little published research to confirm this belief and the results of the present study would tend to argue that it may not necessarily be the case.…”