Pyromania

Burn Baby Burn

Pyromania: "A morbid compulsion to set fires." (Macdonald 4) This term is often used to describe anyone who enjoys watching and setting fires, although the true meaning of the word is a psychological disorder. People affected by this disorder use fire to vent their anger or stress from their everyday life. They will set anything close at hand on fire and take pleasure in the way the fire dances around the object it is quickly smoldering and utterly destroying. A pyromaniac however, is not the same thing as an arsonist. The Pyromaniac has a mental disorder which usually begins at a very young age and gradually fades as the subject ages, or in some cases becomes more intense.

Pyromania, also referred to as fire behavior, progresses through three stages and at each stage it has a chance to be stopped. The first of these stages is Fire Interest. Most children experience Fire Interest between the ages of three and five. The kids may ask questions about fire such as "Why is it so hot?" or "What makes a fire burn?" They also take interest in fire by playing with fire trucks or pretending to cook food on toy stoves. In the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Handbook by Jessica Gaynor, Gaynor explains that "This type of play is healthy and provides children with ways to explore and understand fire as a productive and useful part of their lives." (Gaynor 15) The next stage of Fire Behavior is called Firestarting. This usually occurs between the ages of three and nine. The children at this point begin to start experimenting with starting fires. Not necessarily bonfires but simply lighting the candles on their birthday cake or helping their parents light the fireplace. Gaynor goes on to say that "If these events take place in controlled, supervised settings, most children learn age-appropriate fire behaviors." (Gaynor 15) This is often not the case. Most children engage in at least one unsupervised firestart during this age period and are naively motivated by their own curiosity. They will create these fires with anything close at hand and primarily start them with matches. If anything goes wrong with the fires, the children will either attempt to put the fire out or try to run and get help. The third stage of Fire Behavior is called Firesetting. This stage is not always experienced by the child. Firesetting is the act of causing continuous unsupervised fires without attempt to extinguish the flames. Usually, children aged seven to ten are well educated on the subject of fire at this time. They have the knowledge of how to gather the materials and the space to start a fire. Intentional Firesetting can be caused by underlying psychological or social problems such as being bullied or having extreme anger issues. They will use the fire to vent their anger or stress on the surrounding area. If the child continues to use fire in this manner, he or she could begin to develop Pyromania or even incendiarism (arsonism).

Arson differs from Pyromania in a few distinct ways. Pyromaniacs have an intense obsession with fire while Arsonists enjoy the effects that fire can cause. For example, arsonists enjoy that their fires can have such an impact on everyone else. They start a fire and suddenly people are screaming fire trucks come hurtling down the road with their sirens blaring and it is in the news the next day. "A single match and a little gasoline provide great destructive power, which has an especial appeal for those who are physically, emotionally, or intellectually handicapped."(Macdonald 193) as said by John M. Macdonald in Bombers and Firesetters. Arsonists often have a lust for any type of power they can get. But how can you identify an Arsonist? Is it that manic look in their eyes as they wreak havoc on the surrounding landscapes while laughing hysterically? According to Harvey M. French "Experienced detectives and arson investigators recognize that they cannot rely upon this theory. Even with the modern scientific and medical technological advances, medical authorities on human behavior are in disagreement on appearances, causes, and effects of human behavior in the field of violent acts such as incendiarism." (French