Intrapsychic Dynamics, Behavioral Manifestations, and Related Interventions with Youthful Fire Setters

• NCJ Number: 219498
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Nursing Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2007 Pages: 67-71,83
• Author(s): Dian L. Williams; Paul T. Clements
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the different categories of youthful fire setters that have been identified and offers recommendations for therapeutic approaches with youthful fire setters.

Abstract

Arson is described as “any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without attempt to defraud, a dwelling, house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, or personal property of another.” Youth who deliberately set fires pose a problem to the criminal justice system as well as the mental health systems. Researchers have identified a number of different categories of youthful fire setters that are differentiated depending on the motivation for the fire setting behavior. These categories are: (1) curiosity/accidental fire setting; (2) thought disordered fire setting; (3) delinquent fire setting; (4) thrill seeker fire setting; (5) revenge based fire setters; (6) compulsive fire setters; and (7) disordered coping fire setters. A case example is provided of a 16-year-old disordered fire setter who had suffered from physical and sexual abuse as well as substance abuse by the age of 10 years. In dealing with youth who deliberately set fires, it is recommended that a dynamic behavioral-theoretical approach be used to assess the fire setting behavior. This approach relies on an assessment and evaluation of observable variables in three main areas: (1) personality structure and individual characteristics; (2) family and social circumstances; and (3) immediate environmental conditions. The process of the dynamic behavioral-theoretical approach involves interviews with the youth regarding their underlying thoughts and feelings related to fire setting and a comprehensive family systems assessment that includes a consideration of the family’s response to the fire setting. The ultimate goal of the therapy is to enable the youth to link their ongoing destructive behavior to underlying traumatic experiences or emotions. Through this process, the youth can develop new, flexible, and safe coping techniques. References