Do Not Play with Fire

Abstract

The research of fire setting has been conducted in different ways and lack a coherent, consistent and comprehensive set of empirical findings. A recent review concluded that despite a number of risk factors being repeatedly identified, an understanding of the etiology behind fire setting behavior and potential developmental trajectories remains theoretically rather than empirically based. Existing theories do not take sufficient account of the complexities of fire setting behavior and there is not yet a typology and accompanying assessment that has undergone thorough empirical testing and is of significant clinical utility. Due to the relationship between fire setting and antisocial behavior there is a need for interdisciplinary intervention for fire setters that includes assessment and provides an individualized and developmentally appropriate approach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)