 | 'Fire-raising for pleasure or personal satisfaction argues a psychological imbalance, however brief, at the moment of throwing the match. Drink or drugs may cause or trigger the imbalance. An excess of alcohol removes inhibitions, so aggression may out, and grievances explode.' Cynthia McVey, in the Herald, 2 nd September 2005. |  |
WHY would an adult deliberately set fire to another person's property?
It is generally perceived as being prompted by medical or neurological disorder, or by factors that cannot easily be categorised.
Fire-raising could be part of a fraud, or another crime such as concealment or revenge. However, it could be an act of stupid, thoughtless or drunken playfulness.
Between these extremes, there are other reasons. Some have been found to derive a sense of power from watching the burning of a building they have set alight. Others fantasise about acquiring hero status by raising the alarm.
However, fire-raising for pleasure or personal satisfaction argues a psychological imbalance, however brief, at the moment of throwing the match. Drink or drugs may cause or trigger the imbalance. An excess of alcohol removes inhibitions, so aggression may out, and grievances explode.
Dr Cynthia McVey is a senior lecturer in the Psychology Department at Glasgow Caledonian University.
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