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view or opinions stated in this document are I author(s) and do,not represent the official policies of theU. S. Department of Justice. DATE F:t~MED I I f 'k, Ie" _ ' ___ ,, __.... __ ', ,:. _ ,. '" " __. \ tS/19/ UI ·'\~,~ationaHnstitute.ofJustice -: ,,' j '-Onjted'State$i:>~partment ()fJusti~e" Wa~h.~ngton,D. C.20531
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.-~-~ .. , .. --- -r I ' , 7 6311 I ~ .~ . :« I',' :~ . ©~@ ~@'iWn@~ " ,~ l ~ r- l! / JULY 1980, VOLUME 49, NUMBER 7 ~ ~ \ -,¥ '>' ({ l~;~. ~ W ..~, The Firesetter Contents r.. " A Psychological Profile 7b·3bo ~ f' i f'x (Part 2) TraintD4& 1 "Shoot-Don't Shoot": A Realistic Firearms Course ~ By Dep. Chief Charles F. Hinman and Kathryn Lea Washburn, Police ~ f Department, Newport News, Va. i By ANTHONY OLEN RIDER 4' Special Agent Iii; x 7G3~1 Behavioral Science Unit The Firesetter: A Psychological Profile (Part 2) , FBI Academy By Anthony Olen Rider, Special Agent, Behavioral Science Unit, FBI Quantico, Va. Academy, Quantico, Va. I,~,
).~'~ Po11ce-Communit, 18 "Police and You": A Public Relations Program r,~ it A profile is defined generally as a Psychological profiling appears to The third factor to be considered Bel.tiona By Officer Jorune Jonikas, Police Department, Carmel, Calif. "concise biographical sketch depicting have legitimate and practical applica concerns the potential value of the a personality by vivid outlining and tion to selective criminal investigations. profile in aiding law enforcement in its ~Ccupational Stress and Compensation in LaW' sharp contrast." 48 Its purpose is to Its employment in matters of this na identification of unknown subjects. If Ma:aaamumt L? t provide a distinctive and narrative por ture, however, is often predicated on a only vague generalizations can be Enforcement ./ 6 :; &: 2- trait of an individual. need to identify an unknown subject drawn from the crime scene about the By John A. Leonard, Resea~ch and Planning, D~pt. of .Public S~~ety, A psychological profile, more pre who has demonstrated some form of subject's behavioral style, then the effi Meriden, Conn., and G. Patrick Tully, Commanding Officer, Training cisely, is a description of the salient psychopathology in his crime-sadistic cacy of the psychological profile is Section, Division of State Police, Dept. of Public Safety, Meriden, Conn. ' ~ psychological and behavioral charac torture in sexual assaults, evisceration considerably diminished. For this tech ). teristics of a person. It portrays the and post mortem slashing and cutting nique to be an effective tool, it must Documentary Search Warrants-A Pr,9blelJ!1 of individual psychodynamically by identi in horn!9ides, and motiveless fireset assist the investigator in focusing his fying personality and behavioral traits ting. The projected profile of the of investigation. Particularitv 70 :3 b.3 or patterns (trait clusters) that uniquely fender in these instances serves to The purpose of criminal psycho By Larry E. Rissler, Special Agent, Legal Counsel Divisiion, Federal classify and distinguish him from mem support the investigative process by logical profiling, then, is to provide the Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C. bers of the general population. aiding in the identification and. appre investigator with a personality compos Behavioral scientists, including hension of the offender. ite of the unknown subject that will aid 38 Wanted by the FBI psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. The propriety of criminal psycho in his swift anc:l judicious apprehension. have long used profiling techniques in logical profiling pivots on three critical their diagnostic assessment and em issues. PI'ofUlng the Flresetter pirical study of psychopathology. Pro First, it must be determined wheth David Berkowitz, the confessed files drawn from such studies have er the crime suitably lends itself to "Son of Sam" mass murderer who psychological analysis. Crimes against terrorized New York City during 1976 The Cover: Providing as· Federal Bureau of Investigation Published by the Public Mairs Office, often aided in the understanding and' the person appear to be best suited for and 1977 by killing five young women sistance to both young United States Department of Justice Roger S. Young treatment of mental illness, emotional and old, a Jacksonville Inspector in Charge criminal psychological profiling. police officer comes to Washington, D.C. 20535 distre;tts, and personality maladjust and a man and wounding seven other the aid 01 a damsel in 4"'" Editor-Thomas J. Oeakil'! ment. Cri,.. .. ~ologists have also applied Second, psychological profiling young people, also reportedly informed distress. (Photo courtesy William H. Webster, Director Assistant Editor-Kathryn E. Sulewski llhould be applied only to those cases his attorneys that he set over 2000 01 Frank Smith, Florida Art Director-Carl A. Gnam, Jr. profiling strategies to their study an(:l Times·Union. Jackson· Writer/Editor-Karen McCarron classification of known offenders. in which tM- unknown subject demon fires and made 137 false afarms in ville, Fla.) The Attorney General has determined that the publication 01 this periodical is necessary in.the transaction 01 the Production Manager-Jeffery L. Summers strates some form of mental, emotion New York City from 1974 through public business required by law 01 the Department 01 al, or gehavioral disturbance in the 1977. On almost every occaSion, he Jusllce. Use 01 lunds lor printing this periodical has been approved by the Director 01 the Ollice 01 Management and crime. Unless there is perceptible psy reportedly called in the fires to the Budget ihrough December 28, 1983. chopathology present in the crime, a police as the "Phantom of the Bronx. II ~9 profile cannot be rendered on an un known subject. ISSN 0014-5688 USPS 383-310 July 19110 I 7
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According to a newspaper ac but much still remains speculative or Race count, Berkowitz claimed that he set only partially wbstantiated. Conse these fires in cars, rubbish, brush, and quently, precise answers to the above According to statistical evidence, Social Relationships Sexual Disturbance Alcoholism arrested arsonists are predominately vacant and unoccupied stores. AIIeg questions remain uncertain. More vital Firesetters typically experience Firesetting has been universally Excessive alcohol consumption caucasian. However, there is no evi eLiy, he set 11 of these fires on a and de/ailed information concerning difficulties in social relationships, espe associated with sexual perverSion. Re has been consistently related to adult dence that race is a correlate to arson. single day and two less than a month th€ psychological and behavioral cially with women. Because their rear searchers who are psychoanalytically firesetters. In fact, a number of studies prior to his last killing just a block away ing environments have not fostered oriented have postulated that "iireset aspects of firesetting must be collected Intelligence have found that a large 'portion of ar from the future murder site. and assessed if we are to classify and normal social development, they gen ting functions as a sexual substi sonists are intoxicated at the time of A large number of studies have The newspaper further reported profile more accurately the arsonist erally lack the basic social skills neces tute.... " 54 their firesetting act. Drinking prior to indicated that firesetters tend to be J that "childhood friends of Berkowitz and significantly impact his firesetting. sary for good interpersonal relations. The pyromaniac has even been the act may be an important contribut mentally deficient or of below-average recalled . . . that they would frequently Understanding his behavior preceding. They have been generally described as alleged by some investigators to re ing component in firesetting behavior intelligence. Yet, it has been suggested 'butt' fires in a car outfitted with a fire during, and after his firesetting expelri socially maladjusted and social iso ceive sexual excitement in setting and in that it may loosen inhibitions. radio and that Berkowitz-who ence will greatly enhance the investi that possibly it is the mentally deficient :ates. watching his fires. Arsonists as a group firesetter or at least the less intelligent dreamed of becoming a fireman gative process and possibly accelerate 1::.. have been reported to experience sex Sadi=stlc-Aggrelslve Tendenclea one who is most often identified or Marital Ties would sit in the 'navigator's' seat and identification and apprehension. ual maladjustment and to have an Sadistic and aggressive tenden studied. The more intelligent arsonists log the blazes in detail." 50 Numerous studies have reflected urethral-erotic trait. However, the cies are also thought to be common may avoid detection. Although a large Note pads seized by the authori Common Characteristics of the that firesetters typically experience actual extent of sexual deviance in among firesetters. However, the arson Flresetter number of studies have identified intel ties, allegedly bearing the handprinted poor marital adjustment. Few are firesetting is unknown. ist is believed to have difficulty in ex lectual difficulties among firesetters," flotes of Berkowitz, gave detailed infor According to Jesse James in his known, in fact, to have marital ties. pressing or externalizing his they have n.ot conclusively demonstrat Physical DeformltlC'!s and Defects mation on 1411 fires for the years of article, "Psychological Motives for This possibly stems from their difficul aggression. When his impulses are ed that intellectual impairment or low 1974, 1975, and 1977, including the Arson," ties in developing and maintaining The exact relationship 01 physical thwarted, he has the tendency to react basic intelligence is a precursor to fire date and time of the fire, street, bor- "Neither sex, age, education, intel close interpersonal relationships and disabilities to firesetting is unknown, by perpetrating crimes against property setting. ;,.;' ough, weather, number of the fire box, lectual level nor economic status being reared in mother-dominated en al1hough researchers have detected a instead of people. and the fire department code indicating vironments. Many have also expressed high incidence of physical abnormali in any way limits the possibility of Academic Performance the Wpe of responding apparatus and any individual to engage in arson. a hatred or fear of women. as well as ties or deformities in study samples. Motive building or property burned. On the other hand, from a study of StLJf/ies of firesetters have consist sexual inadequacy. Vreeland and Waller speculate that The motives for firesetting are The question arises as to whether large samples, it does appear that, ently found hir.tor' JS of poor academic physical abnormalities, " ...while not multiple, though revenge seems to run achievement, severe scholastic retar Employment History Berkowitz typifies the firesetter. statistically, persons of certain likely to directly p..-edispose an individu like a thread throughout all malicious dation, and significant grade failures Are arsonists homicidal? Are they ages and with certain characteris Poor occupational adjustment is al to criminal activity, may be a factor in incendiarism. Firesetting has been frustrated would-be firemen? Do they tics are more apt to set fires than among arsonists. This may be due not another common characteristic of the producing a stressful environment found to be the result of impulsive necessarily to intellectual impairment keep meticulous diaries of their fire are others." 51 firesetter. His work habits are poor. which sets the occasion for activities behavior. as well as premeditation. setting activities? Do they tend to but to social and personal maladjust and he frequently changes jobs, tias such as firesetting." 55 Age What specifically stimulates the fireset report their fires to the authorities? ment. Environmental stress. lack of pa difficulty with supervisors, and demon ting act remains unanswered. Rejec Studies have consistently found rental attention, and anxiety may Enuresis What are the precursory factors of strates little interest in advancement. tion. stress, failure. excitement that firesetters tend to be young, with a incendiarism? What are the primary produce learning difficulties. Whatever He is often une~ployed or employed in Enuresis is the involuntary emis seeking, revenge, and sexual inade high rate of incidence around 17 years the reason, firesettir.g children tend to psychological and behavioral charac an unskilled position. sion of urine. often identified as bed quacy have be~n credited as motivat of age. Macdonald reports that the have problems in school. teristics of the firesetter1 Are they wetting. According to researchers who ing factors in pathological firesetting. highest frequency of pathological fire uniquely different from one another Emotlonal.Psychlatrlc Disturbance follow the psychoanalytic viewpoint, However, there is little evidenc,e that setters is between ages 15 and 20. 52 Rearing Environments and from other offenders? Do they Firesetters have been typically enuresis is associated with hate, pa An urethral-erotic trait activates the de According to figures available in the always leave evidence of their person Firesetters appear to come from described as psychiatrically disturbed rental rejection, fantasies of destruc sire to set fires. Though the act of disruptive, frustrating, harsh, broken. or ality at the fire scene? FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), ar and emotionally distressed and malad tion, violent aggression. and sexual fire setting appears to be abnormal and unstable home environments. Often These questions certainly have rested arsonists ages 20 and under justed. They also appear to lac!\ sel~ symbolism. Michaels and Steinberg disproportionate to the motive, it may intrigued behavioral scientists and comprise 65.8 perc~nt of the total their families are large and within the control and self-confidence and experi have noted that delinquent males who not be from the firesetter's perspec investigators for centuries. In fact, the arson arrestees and those 13 to 19 lower socioeconomic level, and it is not ence significant stress and tension. demonstrate a history of persistent tive. Typically, it represents his way of psychological and psychiatric literature years of age account for 42.8 percent. 53 uncommon to find one or both parents Frequently, they manifest psychopathic, enu~esis frequently show tendencies coping with rejection and stress. is replete with clinical case studies and Sex frequently absent. Some studies have neurotic, and psychotic disorders. toward pyromania. 56 In fact, a number empirical research concerning patho noted that repetitive child firesetters of researchers have found a history of The overwhelming majority of Solitary-Group Firesettlng logical firesetting. Significant insigl1t are often middle chUdren; whereas, childhood enuresis in firesetters, as known firesetters are male. This has A review of the literature consist into such behavior has been obtained, adult arsonists are likely to have been well as in delinquents of many types. been supported in clinical and empiri ently reveals that adult arsonists and the first born, last born, or an only children are most frequently solitary cal research studies of known arsonist child. It has been frequently noted that populations and demonstratf,)d in the firesetters, whereas adolescents often .t firesetting children comle from father ~ statistical ,incidence of arrests for set fires in peer groups or pairs. ',\ absent and mother-dominated (over arsonists. protective, rejecting, or abusive) environments.
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8 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
July 1980 / 9
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The mean age of Wolford's incar Prior Criminal History The Typical Arrestad Arsonist Nevertheless, some researchers have cerated arsonist was 28, which is signifi Table 1 Vreeland and Waller have report In an effort to determine a profile of constructed profiles of firesetters based cantly older than the typical arrested Total Arson Arrests by Age Group 1969-1978* ed that most of the studies of institu the average arrested arsonist by age, on common characteristics of selective arsonist according to UCR. In addition, populations. These profiles may not tionalized (imprisoned and sex, and race, a review of the Uiliform only 47 percent of his arsonist pcpula Total represent all arsonists, but they do ap hospitalized) arsonists and nonarson Crime Reports for 1969 through 1978 tion were white, as compared ter 76 Arson Percent pear to illustrate many of those who are ists as groups show both having exten (10-year period) was conducted, which percent represented in UCR statistics. Arrests commonly encountered in prisons and of Total sive histories of criminal and antisocial revealed that 89 percent of those arrest Coupled with this is the fact that Wol Age Groups 1969-1978 Arrests on parole. behavior. 57 Howe\ll3r, their particular ed for arson were male and approxi ford's imprisoned arsonist had a,:.proxi patterns of criminality appear to be mately 76 percent were white. However, mately two prior felony arrests and a Grand Total All Ages 1 A Typical Incarcerated 125,513 100.0 characteristically different. Arsonists as it should be noted that race has not been mean number of four previnus incarcer Adult Male Arsonist a group consistently perpetrate a sig demonstrated as a significant variable in ations. In light of these facts, it appears Total Under 18 Years of Age 68,507 In 1971, Michael R. Wolford an 54.6 nificantly greater number of crimes predicting firesetting. that his arsonist sample population re nounced the results of an experimental 10 and under against property and fs' sr crimes When arson arrests were examined flected the recidivist and not the typical 13,766 11.0 study involving all known incarcerated 11-12 against persons than nonarsonists, by age, it was determined that 54.6 arson offender. 11,323 9.0 I male arsonists in three Southeastern 13-14 though this patt£'{Yl seems to change percent of arrestees were under 18 18,950 15.1 States. The purpose of the study was to 15 after mid· twenties. Lewis and Yarnell years of age. Almost 43 percent were 13 A Typical Paroled Adult Arsonist 9,849 7.8 ascertain if there were any significant 16 report that firesetters under 25 years of through 19 years old, and those 10 and James A. Inciardi in his study of 138 8,009 6.4 differences between incarcerated ar 17 age indulge chiefly in property of under comprised 11 percent of the total convicted adult arsonists I,eleased on 6,610 5.3 fenses. After age 25, they appear to arrest population. It was also found that sonists and incarcerated nonarsonists. parole from New York State prisons The sample population included 68 ar become more inclined to engage in the percentage of arrests for blacks was from 1961 through 1966 found that his Total 18 Years of Age and Over 57,006 45.4 interpersonal violence. 58 significantly higher for the 18-and-over son offenders and 57 nonarsonists. sample population fit into six behavioral The study revealed no significant 18 ~tegory than for those under age 18. categories based on their motivational 5,549 4.4 Flresettlng Targets differences between arsvnists and non 19 The antithesis was found for arrested patterns, namely, revenge firesetters, 4,712 3.8 There has been little data collect arsonists in age, race, employment 20 white arsonists. Seventy-five percent of excitement firesetters, institutionalized 3,871 3.1 background, marital status, number of 21 ed on the types of structures which are the total reported arrests for arson were firesetters, insurance-claim firesetters, 3,345 2.7 generally high,risk targets for fireset 61 prior felony arrests, length of military 22 24 years of age and under. According vandalism firesetters, and firesetters 2,972 2.4 service, or family stability. However, 23 ters. A number of studies on adoles to this analysis, the typical arrested who use arson to cover up another 2,833 2.3 cent-group firesetters indicate, how significant differences were noted for 24 arsonist is a white male in his teens to crime. 2,572 2.0 educational leval, IQ score, rural-urban 25-29 ever, that churches and schools are early twenties. (See Tables 1 through 5 The median age of the paroled 9,375 7.5 background, and number of crimes 30-34 frequent targets. Although child, fe for details.) arsonist in Inciardi's study is compara 6,483 5.2 male, and psychotic firesetters tend to committed against property. The arson 35-39 Although the UCR provides data on ble to the age of Wolford's incarcerat 4,700 3.7 set fires at home, they are also known ists in this study were found to be less 40-44 age, sex, and race of the arrested ed firesetter, but again is much older 3,665 2.9 to start fires away from their premises. educated, to have lower 10 scores, to be 45-49 arsonist, it does not describe his person than the typical arrested arsonist. The 2,718 2.2 Hurley and fllror.ah.-:n, for instance, reared in mere rural settings, and to 50-54 ality characteristics. Therefore, it cannot profiles depicted by Wolford and In 1,848 1.5 found that psychiatric prisoners had 55-59 be determined from these figures have committed more property offenses ciardi also appear comparable in 10 1.098 0.9 most frequently targeted commercial than did nonarsonists, They were also 60-64 whether or not the arrested arsonist is level, rearing environments, marital 600 0.5 propert!(, with dwelling houses sec representative of the arsonist popula incarcerated as a group twice as often status, and criminal histories. However, 65 and over 581 0.5 59 ond. Virkkenun noted that schizo tion. Since so few arsonists are ever as nonarsonists. The study did not find Inciardi's study does not provide ade Unknown Age 134 (2) phrenic arsonists were far more likely to identified, arrested, or prosecuted, they any supporting evidence that arsonists quate criminological data on which to set fires in unoccupied structures than may not represent the typical arsonist. are basically sociopathic (psychopathic base a definite conclusion about the I Percentages do not add to 100.0 percent, due to rounding. ~ .. 2 Less than one-tenth of one percent. nonschizo~hrenic arsonists. 60 The re However, comparison of these arrest or antisocial) in their personality struc personalities of his subjects. venge firesetter generally targets the statistics with available data from case ture. Instead, it was purported that ·Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, property of his real or imagined anemy, and empirical studies of known arson incarcerated arsonists "exhibited per The Adult Revenge Flresetter Annual. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1969-1978. and although the pyromaniac compul ists reflects that they are descriptively sonality characteristics more closely as Revenge appears to be one of the sively sets fires, he may be selective in comparable at least by age, sex, and sociated with persons undergoing more significant motivational factors in his choice of property. race. psychic stress. . . ." 63 arson. Some researchers believe that it There are few studies which have is the undertone in most, if not in all, provided a comprehensive profile of the destru,::tive firesetting. Inciardi found arsonist. In fact, there is some real that tM revenge motive was represent question as to whether a "typical" ed in 58 percent of his sample popula arsonist actually exists. Roth$~ein, for tion. However, Nolan D. C. Lewis and instance, contends that individu~1 differ Helen Yarnell in their study of 1145 ences in firesetters preclude the devel pathological male arsonists deter opment of a typical pwfile. 62 mined that only approximately 15 per cent of their sample expressed revenge as a primary motive for fireset ting.
10 / FBI Law Enforcement Bullelin July 1980 / 11 I
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Although the Inciardi and Lewis The Volunteer Fireman Some researchers have postulat and Yarnell studies vary on the age Solitary Flresetter The Child Flresetter ed that this behavior is the release of -----,------Table 3 factor, their revenge offenders are sig Authorities on firesetting behavior Table 2 This category also represents an sexual tension. Gold agrees that sexual Total Arson Arrests by Sex* Total Arson Arrests by Race* nificantly comparable in many aspects. inadequate, attention-seeking male. tension may be a motivational factor in believe that repetitive or chronic fire In brief, they are characteristicaHy Lewis and Yarnell identified 51 cases some incendiarism but rejects it as a setting by children represents a severe Total Arrests Percent Total Arrests Percent male; white; of below-average intelli (4 percent) fitting this description within major causative factor, 69 and Lewis and behavioral symptom and an observ Sex 1969-1978 Distribution Race 1969-1978 Distribution gence; unmarried; personally, socially, their adult male sample population. Al Yarnell four'd only a very small percent able symptom of psychological disturb White 90,555 75.8 and sexually maladjusted; of pathologi though this group appears to be rela age who claimed to have received ance. For the disturbed child, Male 112,052 89.3 cal rearing backgrounds; alcoholic; no tively small in number, it has the some sort of sexual gratification from firesetting becomes an instrument or Female 13,461 10.7 Black 26,978 22.6 madic; unskilled laborers; and have a propensity for serious destructiveness. their firesetting. 70 outlet for vengeful-hostile reaction, re hostile and assaultive outlook on life. sentment, and defiance of authority. Total 125,513 100.0 Other 1,923 1.6 Their fires are set against persons The Fire "Bu1f" Firesetter The Excitement Flresetter Yarl)E'~1 in her study of 60 cases of whom they believe have offended The fire "buff," like the police J. H. Magee, the ex child firesetters determined that 60 Total 119,456 100.0 , According to them or whom they imagine have "buff,'· is an enthusiastic "hanger-on." cited firesetter is allegedly prompted to percent were between 6 and 8 years of The Adolescent Flresetter ---'- abused them. He generally represents a frustrated set fires because of a craving for ex age. This group demonstrated the fol There have been extensive stud would-be fireman or would-be police lowing characteristics: ies on youthful or ado.!escent fireset Table 4 The Jealousy Motivated Adult citement. His satisfaction comes not 1) They set fiies with associated Male Firesetter man. Although many buffs are civic from seeing the flames but from min ting. In 1951, Lewis and Yarnell studied Total Arson Arrests by Race minded and constructive in their asso gling in the crowd which has gathered fantasies to burn some member of the a large population of adolescent male Under Age 18* "Immediate retribution is the goal ciations with the police and fire service, at the scene of the fire. 71 According to family who had withheld love or was a firesetters. This study demonstrated Total Arrests Percent of firesetters incited by wounded vanity others are characteristically immature, Inciardi, however, the incentive induc serious rival for parental attention .. that home-centered firesetting increas Sex 1969-1978 Distribution and jealous rage." 64 Jealousy is cen inadequate, and u~derachievers. The ing this type of firesetter is the need to 2) Most fires wen3 started in the ingly diminished with the age of the tral to this type firesetting, and Lewis home or within the immediate vicinity. fire buff who sets fires is seeking atten experience the fire and to watch the firesetter. As he got older, his fireset White 51,929 80.0 and Yarnell found this category to rep tion and attempting in a pathological operations of the firemen and their fire 3) The fires, usually symbolic, ting shifted from the home to schools, resent approximately a percent of their way to win praise and social recogni equipment. Some authorities have in caused generally little damage and churches, factories, and homes of Black 12,072 18.6 adult male sample. tion for his alertness and heroism in terpreted Inciardi's "excitement fireset were often extinguished by the child. st~angers. These targets were fre reporting fires and giving assistance in ter" to closely resembie that of the 4) Prior to the firesetting, the child quently selected by youths 12 through Other 921 1.4 The Would-Be Hero fighting them. pyromaniac; however, because of in often had terrible dreams and fantasies 16 years of age. The highest incidence (Attention-Seeking) sufficient descriptive data on Inciardi's of tht:; devil and ghosts. of firesetting at schools involved the Total 64,922 100,0 Male Arsonist The Pyromaniac s"".mple, a definite conclusion cannot 5) They suffered acute anxiety 12-14 age group. Fires directed at This type of arsonist resorts to The pyromaniac differs character be supported. " :.~ over these dreams and fantaSies, as schools were generally associated with fireE~··,tting to attract attention to him istically from the other arsonists in that well as their sexual preoccupations. school problems and motivated by re TableS self. Lewis and Yarnell describe them he lacks conscious motivation for his A Typical Female Flresetter 6) All experienced sexual COnflicts. venge. This type of firesetting was of Total Arson Arrests by Race as "the men with grandiose social am firesetting. In fact, he is considered by The female arsonist appears to Most actively engaged in masturbation ten preceded by theft, vandalism, and 18 and Over* bitions whose natural equipment many to be motiveless. Pyromaniacs direct most of her fire setting against and some participated in mutual mas harassment of the teacher. Defective Total Arrests Percent dooms them to insignificance." 65 Ex have been described as: her own property, possessions, or turbation, sodom!/., and fellatio. intelligence was not found to be a Race 1969-1978 Distribution amples have included watchmen, fire ". . . offenders who said they set premises and rarely against her em 7) Boys who were enuretic also factor in adolescent firesetting until the and police "buffs," volunteer firemen, their fires for no practical reason frequently demonstrated passive traits. youth reached age 16. After age 16, ployer or neighbor. Her motives are .;,\ White 37,513 70.8 and an occasional policeman. "Police and received no material profit similar to that of the male's, with the 8) Many experienced learning the evidence of fires set by mentally men, or men who want to become from the act, their only motive exception that she seems to have disabilities. defective youths showed a marked Black 14,492 27.3 policemen, will set fires so that they being to obtain some sort of more self-destructive tendencies. 9) Some had physical handicaps. increase. 73 can demonstrate how clever they sensual satisfaction." 67 Lewis and Yarnell studied 201 fe 10) They also demonstrated o~her Common characteristics of the Other 993 1.9 are ...." 66 They found this type Lewis and Yarnell in their study male firesetters. This figure represent forms of asocial behavior in addition to adolescent firesetter include: A history arsonist (excluding volunteer firemen found that the pyromaniac represented ed only 15 percent of the total adult firesetting, i.e., truancy, stealing, run of delinquency, disruptive rearing envi Total 52,998 100.0 and fire "buffs") to represent approxi 60 percent of their sample population. sample population. The majority 'Nere ning away, hyperkinesis, and aggres ronment, pathological personality mately 6 percent of their adult male Of this number, 241 expressed receiv found to be mentallv defective and sive behavior. development, sexual immaturity', ag *Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Inves sample. ing some sort of satisfaction from the approximately 32 percent demonstrat 11} Some were orphans and insti gressive or destructive behavior, poor tigation, Crime in the United States, fire. The remaining 447 offenders ed evidence of psychosis, primarily tutionalized children. social adjustment and emotional dis Annual. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Gov "offered no special reason or pe(sist schizophrenic reactions. They were de 12) Their rearing environments turbance, and poor academic achieve ernment Printing Office, 1969-1978. ent interest beyond the fact that some scribed generally as older women who were pathological or broken. It was not ment. thing within them forced them to set uncommon for them to come from fa were lonely, unhappy, and in despair. (Continued on page 16) fires." 68 ther-absent or ineffective-father This urge to set fires has been homes. referred to as the "irresistible im 13) They also lacked a sense of pulse." However, authorities should be security, love, and attention. 72 cautioned on accepting this explana tion.
12 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin f July 1980 I 13
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Moll, as well as Ltiwis and Yarnell, Though the psychotic appeared 5) Academically retarded, "Nolan D. C. lewis. "Pathologir.al Firesettlng and ha~ purported that adolescent fireset distinctive in that his firesetting was 6) Slightly below-average intelli In next month's issue of the Law 53 Michael R. Wollord. supra .• p. 8. Sexual Molivation." in Sexual Behavior and the Law, Ralph .. Nolan D. C. lewis and Helen Yarnell. supra, p. 46. ting is generally committed for excite suicidal and delusional, he was found gence, Enforcement Bulletin, arson-for-profit, Siovenico. ed. (Springfield. III.: Charlas C. Thomas. 1965). '" Ibid .• p. 228. 7) Emotionally and psychologically the hired-torch, and his conspirators p.627. "Ibid.• p. 240 . ment rather than for destructive to fall naturally within other firesetter .. Robert G. Vreeland and Marcus B. Waller, The "Ibid., pp. 228-242. reasons. 74 categories, i.e., revenge firesetters and disturbed, will be explored. Hopefully, the profiles Psychology of Firesening: A Review and Appraisal (Wast;. ., ibid .• p. 86. 8) Socially and sexually provided in this and the next s\9ction ington, D.C.: U.S. Govemment Printing Office, 1979). p. 26. "Louis H. Gold. "Psychiatric Prolile 01 the Firesetter." Yet, whatever the specific motive, pyromaniacs. Consequently, Lewis and "Joseph J. Michaels and A. Sleinberg. "Persistent Journal of Forensic Science. vol. 7. No.4. October 1962. vandalism fires appear to represent 80 Yarnell included the majority of psy maladjusted, will assist the investigator in effectively Enuresis and Juvenile DelinQItr.Mcy." British Journal of p.407. Delinquency. Vol. 3. 1952, llJi. 114-120; Sheldon Glueck 75 ,oNolan D. C.lewis and Helen Yarnell. supra., p. 118. percent of juvenile firesetting. The chotic firesetters in other subgroups 9) Unmarried, targeting arson in his community. It and Eleanor T. Glueck; Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency "J. H. Magee. "Pathological Arson:' Scientific adolescent firesetter generally works in rather than devising a special classifi 10) Psychologically inadequate must be remembered, however, that (New York: Commonwealth Fund. 1950). Monthly. yol. 37. 1933. p. 36t. "Robert G. Vri.leland I!.~ Marcus B. Waller, supra, p. 72 Helen Yarnell. "Firesetting in Children." Amencan pairs or groups, since this provides cation for them. Eight percent of these and insecure, and the profile serves as a tool for narrow 23; Michael R. Wolf<'Jrd. "Some Attitudinal, Psychological Journal of Orthopsychiatry. vol. la, 1940. pp. 262-286. 11) Cowardly. ing fhe investigative process. It is not a and Sociologk;aI Characteristics of Incarcerated (I.rson· 73 Nolan D. C. Lewis and Helen Yarnell. supra .• pp. support for his behavior and encour psychotics were classified as pyroma ists." prl'sented at the 17th Annual An;on Deter' In and 286-287.311-345. ages the act. These pairs or groups niacs, and approximately 90 percent of Their ~iresetting is often immediately magical answer to either the prev~n Investigation Seminar, Sarasota. Fla., August 4. 1 ~71, p. ,. ,. Kendall D. Moll. Arson, Vandalism and Violence: preceded by a precipitating stressfl'll tion or solution to incendiarism. I'BI "Nolan D. C. Lewis and Hillen Yarnall. Pathological Law Enforcement Problems Affecting Fire Departments generally consist of one boy who as the male psychotics were diagnosed Firesefting (pyromania), Ne!1loos and Menial Disease (Washington. D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice. National sumes a dominant role and others who as schizophrenics. 80 situation or experience. Monographs, No. 82 (NllVl York: Coolidge Foundation, Institute 01 law Enlorcement and Criminal Justice. law 1951). p. 42. Although pathological firesett.,grs Footnote. Enlorcemenl Assistance Admini~tration. 1974). p. 13; accept a submissive role. 76 Virkkunen's study of 30 schizo "W. Hurley and T. Monahan. "Arson: The Criminal Nolan D. C. lewis and Helen Yarnell. supra .. pp. 311-345. and the Crime," British Journal of Criminology. vol. 9, share many common characteristics, a .. Webster's' Third New International Dictionary. "John G. Boudreau et aI., Arson and Arson Investiga phrenic and nonschizophrenic fireset 1969, pp. 4-21. The Schizophrenic Male Flresetter "typical" firesetter just does not exist. unabridged (Springfield. Mass.: G. & C. Merriam Co~pany. tion: Survey ar4 A.ssessment (Washington. D.C.: U.S. ters revealed that both groi:i'ps were 19(1) s.v. "profile." .. M. Virl 16 / FBI Law Enforcement l3ulletin _._ .._ ... _..... _--- i.--~~---~- .. I : .. , - . • ~~~------~------ I I ., «