The Difference Between Pyromania and Arson

Pyromania is a mental illness characterized by impulsivity, and arson occurs when someone intentionally sets a fire with the understanding that others could be harmed.

Pyromania and arson are both associated with fire-setting, and people may use these terms interchangeably. However, the two conditions are not the same:

• What is pyromania?The key difference between pyromania and arson is that pyromania is amental illness. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) includespyromania disorder.
• What is arson?In contrast to pyromania, arson is not a mental illness but rather aserious crime. It occurs when someone intentionally sets someone’s property on fire with malicious intent. Each state makes its own laws regarding arson. In some states, arson is automatically a felony. In others, it can be either a felony or misdemeanor depending on factors surrounding the crime.

Criteria for Pyromania vs. Arson

Pyromania and arson differ clearly in the criteria that define them. TheDSM-5provides pyromania diagnostic criteria, describing that people with pyromania have intentionally set a fire more than once and have felt tension or emotional arousal prior to the fire-setting. A person with pyromania also demonstrates a fascination with fire and derives some sort of pleasure from setting or watching fires. To meet criteria for pyromania, a person cannot set fires for monetary gain or engage in fire-setting as a part of a crime or display of sociological deviance.

Arson, however, meets the exact criteria that disqualify a person from a pyromania diagnosis. To begin with, arson is a crime and a display of sociological deviance. Arson can also occur when a person sets property on fire in order to collect insurance money, which represents setting fires for monetary gain. According tolegal experts, a person who commits arson is creating some sort of damage, and they set the fire with the intent of causing this damage.

Causes of Pyromaniac and Arsonist Behaviors

With both pyromania and arson, there are underlying causes that contribute to this abnormal behavior. The causes of fire-setting are typically psychological, environmental, or genetic.

Motivations for Fire-Setting Behavior

Studieson pyromania psychology indicate that many people with pyromania will set fires to relieve built-up tension. They feel a compulsion to set fires and are fascinated with doing so. Additionally, they are motivated to set fires because it causes them to experience an emotional rush. Fire-setting can therefore become a method of coping with boredom or feelings of inadequacy.

People who commit arson, however, may have different motives. For example, they may wish to gain monetary rewards, which is why some people will commit arson to their own property in order to collectinsurance money. Research with females who commit arsonshowsthat they tend to target the property of people who are close to them, which suggests that they may be seeking revenge.

It is also possible that issues related tomental health and substance usecan motivate a person to commit arson. There isevidencethat those who engage in arson are more likely to suffer from these issues.Schizophreniaandalcohol misuseare common among people who commit arson, and it is possible that being under the influence of alcohol may prompt an act of arson.

Environmental Causes

Environmental factors can contribute to both pyromania and arson. In the case of pyromania, conflict and stress arefactorswithin the environment that can lead to fire-setting behavior. For example, a child pyromaniac may set fires in order to cope with stress or conflict in the home, such as violence, abuse or poverty. With arson,environmental factorsthat influence fire-setting can include social isolation, lack of education and unemployment. Females who aresexually abusedmay also be more likely to commit arson.

Genetic Causes

There is also some belief that fire-setting behavior can be genetic. For instance, pyromania falls under the category ofimpulse control disorders, which arepartly attributable to genetics. In addition, there are genes that are associated withimpulsivity. These genes can alter the activity of brain chemicals like dopamine, which is linked to pleasure and reward.

Differences in Handling Pyromania and Arson

With pyromania being labeled as a mental illness and arson as a crime, there may be differences in treatment between the two. Pyromania treatment should involve psychological therapy, and a specific form calledcognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) may be especially useful for treating pyromania.

In CBT, people learn to alter their negative thinking patterns and replace them with healthier, more effective ways of thinking. Altering these patterns can change behavior and help people to develop more effective coping skills. Medications likeantidepressantsand antipsychotics may also be useful for treating pyromania. Research shows that up to90%of people with pyromania also have another condition, such as amood disorderor anaddiction. Because of this,pyromania treatmentmay require that a person receives dual treatment to address other underlying issues.

Arson is a crime, so the handling of this condition may involve a prison sentence. The type of sentence for arson typically depends upon theseverityof the crime. It can range from a fine for less serious misdemeanor arson cases to a lengthy prison sentence for severe cases where people could have been harmed.

While arson typically carries a criminal sentence, this does not mean that treatment is unnecessary for those who commit arson. As previously noted, people who engage in arson are likely to live with other conditions, such as schizophrenia or alcohol use disorders. Because of this, it may be necessary to treat underlying conditions. Arsonists may also requiresocial skills training, and they could benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.

If you or a loved one is living with a substance use disorder and also engaging in fire-setting behaviors, there is treatment available. The Recovery Village offerscomprehensive treatment servicesto treat both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions, such as pyromania and schizophrenia.Contact ustoday to begin the journey toward recovery.