Pyromania - what it is, causes and treatment of the disease

Pyromania is a disorder of desire, manifested by an irresistible urge to set fire and fascination with watching flames. The desire to start a fire arises spontaneously, while arson occurs impulsively. Pyromaniacs experience extraordinary delight and pleasure while organizing a fire and observing the combustion process; they can only assess the consequences after extinguishing it. Diagnosis is performed using the method of clinical conversation. Treatment of true pyromania is carried out using methods of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and drug behavior correction.

How a person is cremated in a crematorium these days.

Human cremation takes place in crematoria - complex engineering structures designed for 100% combustion of the dead along with the coffin at ultra-high temperatures.
The crematorium complex consists of several industrial furnaces capable of generating temperatures of 900-1100°C, which ensures the complete disintegration of the body and its transformation into ashes. Cremation takes from one and a half to two hours, and after cremation of a person, ashes with a volume of 2-2.5 liters remain.

The coffin with the body is delivered to the crematorium and placed on a hearse in the hall for the farewell ceremony. At the end of the ritual, the coffin is transferred to a conveyor and moved to a transit room, from where after a certain time it enters the cremation oven. Imagining how people are cremated in a crematorium, we, especially at a young age, think that the body goes into the fire immediately after the coffin disappears behind the curtains of the farewell hall. But this is not always the case: such technology is not provided in every crematorium.

After cremation, the ashes are placed in a metal capsule and sealed. Most often, the relatives of the deceased want to receive the ashes in an urn. Funeral urns come in a variety of designs and are chosen according to taste: purchased from a crematorium or funeral store and then given to the crematorium staff, who transfer the ashes from the capsule to the urn.

The urn is collected by the relative responsible for receiving it, after which the final stage of burial begins.

After cremation, the urn with ashes is stored in the crematorium until claimed by her relatives. The shelf life varies in different regions, but most often it is 1 year. If the ashes are not claimed, the urn will be buried in a common grave at the crematorium.

Pyromania causes

Pyromania in psychology is considered a disorder of impulsive behavior, which is characterized by a recurrent inability to resist the impulse to “burn something” and a strong preoccupation with contemplating the fire. The main feature of this disorder is the commission of arson without apparent reason or motivation, such as material wealth, revenge or ideology.

Freud also attached unconscious significance to fire. He saw in it a kind of intimate symbol. Freud believed that the heat spread by fire gives rise to the same sensations that accompany sexual arousal, and the movement and shape of fire resembles the phallus.

Other scientists associate pyromania with the manifestation of a pathological craving for power, social status and dominance. Often pyromaniacs can volunteer to serve as firefighters after setting something on fire. This behavior is associated with an attempt to prove that they are brave and courageous in order to demonstrate their strength. Pyromania is a way of releasing accumulated rage and frustration, which is caused by a feeling of sexual, physical or social humiliation.

Psychologists have noted that many pyromaniacs grew up in single-parent families (without a father). Therefore, one of the reasons for arson is the desire for the absent father to return home as a savior, putting out the fire and saving his child from the hardships of life.

There are significantly fewer female arsonists than male ones. Such women are characterized by sexual promiscuity and often suffer from kleptomania.

Today, experts in the field of psychiatry have put forward the theory that the basis of the irresistible craving for pyromania is mainly a disturbed or incorrect personality formation. There is also an opinion that the cause of this mania may be a severe form of one of the types of anomalies of sexual behavior.

Often the first manifestations of pyromania are observed in childhood or adolescence. If a child is over three years old, then matches have exceptional magnetism for him. Children's pyromania manifests itself by lighting fires or watching a burning candle. However, at the same time, children who commit arson do not understand all the consequences that their offense may entail.

Older pyromaniacs in such situations are the complete opposite, since they are well aware of all the consequences of setting a building or car on fire.

There is an opinion that the reason for the uncontrollable craving for arson in adults is the awakening of a primitive instinct with which they cannot cope. If an individual has mental illness, then in all cases he cannot overcome the urge to commit arson.

It has been established that in eleven percent of cases pyromaniacs are people with mental disorders, and every fourth of them has a tendency to relapse and serial arson. In judicial practice, there is a known case where a subject who underwent a psychiatric examination committed arson more than 600 times. Psychiatrists believe that pyromaniacs can be found both among those who enjoy contemplating the flames and among those who are on the other side of the barricades - working in the fire service.

Risk factors

In addition to humiliation and lack of upbringing, risk factors for the development of pyromania are considered to be living in a single-parent family. Currently, many children are being brought up without a father, who once left his family, and the child’s desire is to return his father in any way: attracting attention to himself, creating situations that threaten the child’s life, which can include arson. The child or teenager does not fully understand the danger of such behavior, nor does he think about the fact that the father may not even know about the danger threatening his child.

Signs of pyromania

According to many psychologists, this type of mania should be considered a serious mental disorder. A true pyromaniac is unconsciously and irresistibly drawn to committing arson, and he does not need any reasons or motives to commit them. They experience true pleasure from the very process of committing arson. They also rarely hide their involvement in a fire.

Psychiatrists believe that cases of true pyromania are quite rare. Basically, manifestations of an irresistible craving for arson and contemplation of flames accompany other, more serious diseases, for example, schizophrenia.

The main signs of pyromania:

— multiple arson attacks or attempts to commit them without obvious motives (at least two unmotivated arson attacks);

— the arsonist’s actions are characterized by confidence and intensity;

- before committing arson, pyromaniacs have internal tension, excitement, which passes immediately after the accomplishment of the plan and a feeling of relief appears;

- reflections on objects related to fire;

- the pleasure of watching the flame;

- in some cases, an abnormal interest in machines and equipment intended for extinguishing fires is detected;

- pyromaniacs, when committing arson, never pursue material goals;

- pyromaniacs often act as spectators - they like to watch fires, for example, in their neighbors;

— often people suffering from this disease report false arson;

- in some cases, pyromaniacs feel sexual activation at the sight of a flame;

- the subject is constantly haunted by thoughts about choosing a suitable object for arson, about how to start a fire.

If the symptoms of this disease are identified earlier, it is easier to cure it. Pyromania can be accompanied by alcoholism. In such cases, the desire to set fire becomes even more uncontrollable and uncontrollable. Such people do not realize the consequences of their actions and do not take responsibility for their actions. Today there is a lot of controversy about what this type of mania is.

Pyromania in psychology and psychiatry is still considered a disease related to severe mental disorders. In addition, this disease is characterized by a chronic course.

At the same time, pyromania should be distinguished from:

- deliberate arson (when there is a clear motive) in the absence of mental disorder;

- arson committed by teenagers with deviant behavior, in cases where there are other behavioral disorders, for example, aggression, theft, truancy;

- arson committed by persons with sociopathic personality disorders with persistent violations of social behavior, for example, aggression or indifference to the interests of other people;

- arson committed by people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Such arson is usually carried out by them under the influence of delusional ideas or as a result of obeying the orders of “voices”;

- arson committed by people with organic mental disorders.

Symptoms

When committing arson, a person most often does not pursue any personal motives, it follows that the pyromaniac does not prove anything by his action. In most cases, the pyromaniac does not try to hide any crime, is not aimed at obtaining material gain, and his actions are not a manifestation of political or social discontent.

The main goal pursued by the patient is to obtain maximum pleasure from observing the combustion process. Persons suffering from a pathological addiction to arson may not hide their involvement in fires, and also commit arson systematically.

The distinctive signs of pyromania are:

• Repeated attempts to commit arson for no apparent reason.
• Confidence and intensity of actions.
• Constant thoughts about fire and things related to it.
• Ability to report false arson.
• Tendency to observe fire from outsiders.
• The appearance of internal tension before committing arson and rapid relief after the deed.
• Getting pleasure from contemplating fire.
• Lack of material motives for one’s actions.
• Interest in objects and vehicles related to firefighting.
• The appearance of sexual desire when contemplating fire in some cases.
• Detailed consideration of how to commit arson and where best to do it.

What it is?

Pyromania got its name from the ancient Greek words πῦρ, which means “flame” and μανία – “madness”, “passion”. This is the name of a mental disorder, which belongs to the category of behavioral and desire disorders. Pyromania is a disease that manifests itself as an incredibly strong desire to commit arson and enthusiastically watch the fire blaze.

The term was first introduced into psychiatric practice in the 19th century, but the phenomenon itself was known long before that. Modern experts consider pyromania not only as a mental illness, but also from a legal point of view, as a direct violation of the law, a crime.

A true pyromaniac never sets anything on fire for profit or profit, as a protest or in order to hide traces of crimes. Setting it on fire is the only way to get rid of an obsessive thought and realize it. Watching a neighbor’s house, a work of art, money or worthless garbage burn, a pyromaniac experiences the same joy, euphoria, satisfaction, and he feels better.

Psychiatrists know of cases where pyromaniacs experienced real sexual arousal at the moment of burning something, followed by release. This is called pyrolagnia.

A pyromaniac never plans in advance what to burn - an irresistible urge to commit arson arises suddenly, spontaneously, impulsively. Quite often, a pathological craving for flames develops in childhood, and the peak of the disease is considered to be between 16 and 30 years of age inclusive.

Women suffer from pyromania much less often than men. The overall prevalence of mental disorder is about 0.4% of the population. That is how many pyromaniacs walk among us.

History has known many pyromaniacs. The most famous can safely be considered Herostratus - an ordinary resident of Ancient Greece, who became famous for nothing else except his strange attitude towards arson. The man simply burned down the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

He could not really explain his action. Historians suggest that Herostratus simply wanted to get his “moment of glory.” And received. Along with the death penalty.

Pyromania was characteristic of Emperor Nero, who did not limit himself to one building and immediately burned down the entire city - Rome. It burned for a week, and all this time Nero watched the fire. Realizing what happened when almost everything burned down, the emperor found nothing better than to blame the incident on Christians, after which mass pogroms began.

The famous physicist Robert Wood was also known for his painful attitude towards fire. Since childhood, the boy loved to set things on fire and explode, and by the age of 8, Wood had terrified those around him, which is why he was regularly visited by the police. Then the young physicist advised police officers, helping them expertly identify the types of explosives and flammable substances that criminals used to commit explosions and arson.

The most unfortunate can be considered a pyromaniac from France. In 1776, police arrested 16-year-old Jean Baptiste Muron, who was obsessed with setting fires for no apparent purpose. For a series of fires, a young man was sentenced to 100 years in prison. It should be noted that Jean served his term “through and through”, being released at the age of 116 years.

Causes of mental disorder

Pyromania is a mental disorder that can develop in a person for a number of reasons:

• accumulation of negative emotions that require release;
• a feeling of powerlessness in the face of some life difficulty;
• experiencing constant humiliation from family members or peers in a team;
• low self-esteem;
• long-term loneliness.

Cancerophobia - what does it mean, symptoms

As a rule, people suffering from pyromania experience a feeling of inferiority and inadequacy in everyday life. Committing arson, a mentally ill person compensates for the lack of self-confidence through the flame: it seems to him that he controls the powerful energy of fire, admires the creation of his hands, admires the movement of tongues bursting with heat.

Attention! In the presence of a sexual mental disorder, men who have a passion for fire experience sexual satisfaction from the sight of playing flames, which is used by such patients as sublimation.

Scientists explain the predominance of men among pyromaniacs from a medical point of view by the presence of the male sex hormone, which pushes its owner to search for dangers and thrills that can increase the level of adrenaline in the blood.

Men predominate among pyromaniacs

Craving for arson in children

Most psychiatrists are of the opinion that pyromania occurs as a result of abnormal development of personality structure, and the formation of a mental disorder begins in childhood. If the first symptoms of the disease are detected in a teenager, its manifestations can be much more destructive.

Almost every child experiences some interest in fire, and at the first opportunity tries to play with matches. Children can make fires and set fire to certain objects, but normally a few times should be enough to completely lose interest in this activity. A pyromaniac child tries to associate all his games with fire, which should alert parents and others. Children's pyromania poses a particular danger, because the child is not fully aware of the threat that fire hides and the possible dire consequences of arson.

By the way, some psychologists express the opinion that in adulthood a person may well choose a profession related to fire (firefighter, fakir, etc.), if in childhood he developed a craving for this phenomenon.

What is pyromania

Fire has always attracted people's attention. This is an element that, on the one hand, obeys a person, but at some point becomes uncontrollable. Fire can both feed a person, warm and even protect, and kill, harm, and cause pain. This is the most controversial natural element that attracts people on an instinctive level.

If we talk about pyromania, then this is a disorder in which a person experiences a craving for fire, even in the process of preparing for action he experiences satisfaction. After lighting a fire, the arsonist experiences pleasure from contemplating it, because this process has a calming effect.

Diagnosis and treatment

In order to confirm the diagnosis, the psychiatrist needs to find out whether the patient had motives for setting the fire. If there were, then we are talking about a crime. If he did it for the purpose of pleasure, there is a mental disorder.

A specialist can prove the presence of pyromania based on the following points:

1. There were more than 2 arson attacks. The man carefully thought through and planned each of them.
2. Immediately before and during the fire, the patient experienced a lot of positive emotions, ranging from joyful anticipation to indescribable delight.
3. There was no goal to take revenge on anyone or prove anything, or to hide what had been done. The desire to set something on fire was impulsive.

If there is a suspicion of schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug addiction, dementia or other personality disorders, additional diagnostics will be required, in particular CT and MRI.

The treatment plan is determined by the complexity of the course of pyromania. If the pathology does not develop against the background of any mental illness, but as an independent disorder, hospitalization will be required. The main difficulty is that patients often do not realize their condition and try hard to avoid treatment. In some cases it has to be done forcibly.

Treatment consists of 2 stages. The first is drug therapy. Medicines will help cope with impulsive desires to set something on fire. The most commonly prescribed drugs are antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedatives.

The second stage is psychotherapy. But we are not talking about passive methods. Attempts to change the patient’s beliefs will not end in anything. Therefore, the use of hypnosis and neurolinguistic programming is recommended. Psychocorrection is possible already at the recovery stage.

Mechanism of addiction development

The disorder does not occur overnight. It goes through several stages of development:

1. At first, a person has an obsessive idea that he needs to make a fire and admire the fire. It is impossible to get rid of this desire.
2. Moreover, the patient recognizes that his idea can be implemented. This improves his mood. This begins the thinking phase, which brings with it joyful anticipation.
3. What follows is the actual implementation of the plan or arson. At this stage, a person experiences unprecedented euphoria and a feeling of happiness. The amount of adrenaline and serotonin in the blood increases.
4. After the arson is committed, the repentance phase begins. A person realizes that he has done something bad, and this makes him depressed. To get out of this state, he needs a new portion of emotions. And so on in a circle.
5. Over time, the intervals between phases become shorter. During these periods of time, arsonists think about the fire, watch films and news on this topic with unprecedented pleasure, and also discuss it with others. In addition, they often dream of fires.

If a person suffering from pyromania drinks alcohol, he becomes almost uncontrollable and therefore capable of impulsive actions. Thus, he can set fire to a house with people inside.

Pyromania: reasons

Like other forms of deviant behavior, the development of pyromania occurs as a result of the negative impact of external and internal factors. The main reasons for the formation of an abnormal passion for committing arson are the following factors:

• genetic predisposition to social deviations, a family history of mental disorders;
• insufficient level of intellectual development, acquired both from birth and as a result of organic brain diseases, cranial injuries;
• significant deviations in the emotional-volitional sphere;
• instability and imbalance in the mental sphere, which caused the formation of pathological arousal and affective states;
• instability in society, financial and political crises that lead to a gap between the goals of the human community and acceptable ways to achieve these goals;
• conflict between the individual’s personal worldview and the priority values ​​of the majority;
• problematic period of growing up, lack of attention or excess of control over the child, antisocial behavior of parents;
• negative environmental impact;
• deviations in the subject’s self-esteem and personal aspirations, which creates a need to demonstrate one’s own strength to society;
• pathological thirst for power;
• serious problems of the individual in the intimate sphere, long-term sexual deprivation.

Causes

Psychologists and psychiatrists have conducted a lot of research, thanks to which they have found that in almost 100% of cases, pyromania begins in childhood. But its manifestations gain strength in adulthood.

It is impossible to say unequivocally for what reasons the disorder develops. However, experts were able to identify a number of factors provoking its appearance:

1. Character type. In most cases, pyromaniacs do not know how to quickly adapt to changing life circumstances. This makes them very vulnerable to stress. In addition, they usually have low self-esteem and almost completely lack self-confidence, and have a highly developed inferiority complex. This is why such people look at the world around them through a negative lens. It turns out to be a vicious circle. They seem to not want to make contact with society, but at the same time they are in dire need of attention. Arson helps solve the problem. Even if it is fleeting, pyromaniacs still receive attention.
2. Authoritarian parenting. According to psychologists, most of those who suffer from pyromania were brought up in dysfunctional families. They were cruel, disrespectful and there was violence. Because of this, the child never learned to control himself, to restrain some destructive impulses.
3. Weak intellectual development. This factor is less common than others. Due to some diseases that reduce the level of intelligence (mental retardation, dementia, brain injuries, etc.), the pyromaniac simply does not understand what he is doing. He simply admires the fire, without even thinking about the destructive effect it brings with it.
4. Psychopathy. It is considered one of the main factors provoking the development of pyromania. At the same time, the pyromaniac is not limited to arson. He may be caught in theft, fraud, vagrancy and other illegal activities.

Don't forget about frustration. If a person is unable to meet basic needs for a long period of time, the risk of developing an unhealthy relationship with fire increases. In this case, watching a fire or setting fires is a way to relieve nervous tension or even relax.

Signs of pyromania

According to many psychologists, this type of mania should be considered a serious mental disorder. A true pyromaniac is unconsciously and irresistibly drawn to committing arson, and he does not need any reasons or motives to commit them. They experience true pleasure from the very process of committing arson. They also rarely hide their involvement in a fire.

Psychiatrists believe that cases of true pyromania are quite rare. Basically, manifestations of an irresistible craving for arson and contemplation of flames accompany other, more serious diseases, for example, schizophrenia.

The main signs of pyromania:

— multiple arson attacks or attempts to commit them without obvious motives (at least two unmotivated arson attacks);

— the arsonist’s actions are characterized by confidence and intensity;

- before committing arson, pyromaniacs have internal tension, excitement, which passes immediately after the accomplishment of the plan and a feeling of relief appears;

- reflections on objects related to fire;

- the pleasure of watching the flame;

- in some cases, an abnormal interest in machines and equipment intended for extinguishing fires is detected;

- pyromaniacs, when committing arson, never pursue material goals;

- pyromaniacs often act as spectators - they like to watch fires, for example, in their neighbors;

— often people suffering from this disease report false arson;

- in some cases, pyromaniacs feel sexual activation at the sight of a flame;

- the subject is constantly haunted by thoughts about choosing a suitable object for arson, about how to start a fire.

If the symptoms of this disease are identified earlier, it is easier to cure it. Pyromania can be accompanied by alcoholism. In such cases, the desire to set fire becomes even more uncontrollable and uncontrollable. Such people do not realize the consequences of their actions and do not take responsibility for their actions. Today there is a lot of controversy about what this type of mania is.

Pyromania in psychology and psychiatry is still considered a disease related to severe mental disorders. In addition, this disease is characterized by a chronic course.

At the same time, pyromania should be distinguished from:

- deliberate arson (when there is a clear motive) in the absence of mental disorder;

- arson committed by teenagers with deviant behavior, in cases where there are other behavioral disorders, for example, aggression, theft, truancy;

- arson committed by persons with sociopathic personality disorders with persistent violations of social behavior, for example, aggression or indifference to the interests of other people;

- arson committed by people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Such arson is usually carried out by them under the influence of delusional ideas or as a result of obeying the orders of “voices”;

- arson committed by people with organic mental disorders.

Interesting Facts

In human history there have been many people suffering from pyromania. One of them is Herostratus. This man, who lived during the times of Ancient Greece, became famous for nothing other than his strange love of arson. He is responsible for the fire that burned down the Temple of Artemis, located in Ephesus.

Why he did this, Herostratus could not explain. According to some scientists, this was an attempt to become famous, at least for a few minutes. And the man received his share of glory. It came with the death penalty.

The Roman Emperor Nero also suffered from pyromania. Remember the story of how he burned Rome? The ruler watched the large-scale fire for a week, and when he realized what he had done, he placed all the blame on the Christians. This event provoked mass persecutions and pogroms.

Another hero is 16-year-old Jean Baptiste Muron, who lived in France. He was arrested in 1776 for another attempt at arson. The sentence is 100 years' imprisonment in a French prison. It is noteworthy that the man served his sentence from start to finish and was released at the age of 116 years.

Treatment options

Since pyromania is a pathological syndrome that falls within the scope of a mental disorder, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the disease as a whole. All manic arsonists do not realize the severity of their condition, so treatment for pyromania is complex and painstaking work. Sometimes the only option for preventing arson is the involuntary placement of an individual in a psychiatric hospital.

In addition, a person with pyromania has a reduced ability to evaluate his actions or is completely absent. There is no motivation to contact a specialist to overcome pathological cravings. Therefore, an important stage in the treatment of pyromania is the person’s awareness of his destructive actions.

Real medicine helps eliminate signs of obsessive behavior, pyromania, if it occurs in the complex of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The doctor selects individual therapy after conducting a series of diagnostic measures. Treatment for pyromania includes psychotherapy, medications and hypnosis.

Hypnosis sessions are shown to be highly effective in treating this disorder. Manic behavior can be eliminated by influencing the subconscious, by transforming negative emotions into constructive positive feelings.

Treatment of pyromania

If you have problems with your relationship with fire and uncontrolled arson, you need to contact specialists in the field of psychology and psychotherapy, because only qualified medicine knows pyromania, what it is and how it should be treated.

Therapy of the disease is carried out in a complex and includes the following stages:

• use of medications;
• passive psychotherapy;
• hypnosis;
• active psychotherapy and analysis.

A severe form of pyromania requires immediate hospitalization and constant supervision by specialists. At the same time, it is necessary to correct behavior, stop manic tendencies and treat obsessive states. For this purpose, anxiolytics, neuroleptics, and sedatives are used. Common medications for relieving nervous excitability based on decoctions of medicinal herbs do not have any beneficial effect on the body of a pyromaniac.

The initial motivation of a person with such a pathology is absent. Therefore, first of all, correction methods are applied to him that do not require active participation from him. Hypnosis or suggestion without inducing a trance works best. Such techniques at the subconscious level help to introduce the idea of ​​irrationality of behavior and reprogram negative experiences into neutral or positive ones.

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Pyromania. Reference

Psychologists believe that pyromania is a disease, a mental disorder. The patient is irresistibly attracted to arson, and he does not need a motive for this. The process itself is important to a pyromaniac; he receives true satisfaction from what is happening and absolutely does not hide his involvement in it. According to psychologists, cases of pyromania are extremely rare and often accompany other serious mental illnesses - depressive psychosis and schizophrenia.

Patients who observe or participate in a fire show interest and curiosity, and experience joy, satisfaction, or relief. They never commit a fire for material gain, to conceal crimes, or as an expression of socio-political protest.

Currently, the prevailing version in medicine is that pyromania is an attraction, which in most cases is based on abnormal or impaired development of the personality structure. Many doctors consider pyromania to be a severe form of one of the types of sexual deviation.

Pyromania is thought to begin in childhood or adolescence. Children aged three years and older are attracted to matches like a magnet. They love to light fires and look at burning candles. However, a child who causes a fire is not able to assess the consequences of his actions - unlike adult arsonists who understand what will happen if they set fire to a house or car. The passion of adults for arson, psychologists believe, is the awakening of a primitive instinct that a sick or immature intellect cannot cope with.

According to professor of psychiatry Volker Faust (Germany), there are significantly more people suffering from an unmotivated passion for arson than was officially established during a psychiatric examination. Only 10% of all attackers are subject to examination, although during interrogations they cite such motives for their actions as the desire to admire the performance, demonstrate their strength, take revenge on their parents, enjoy cries for help, and the like. Of this 10%, on average, three quarters are men. 11% have mental disorders, and every fourth is prone to relapse and serial arson.

Berlin criminologist Claudius Oder gives the example of a pyromaniac who, after a psychiatric examination, committed arson more than 600 times.

According to German psychiatrists, pyromaniacs can often be found not only among those who like to admire the fire, but also among fire department workers, and it is they who are most actively involved in extinguishing the fires they themselves have started.

Psychologists give the following portrait of a pyromaniac: this is, as a rule, a man under 30 years of age who has had problems studying at school or obtaining a profession, he often suffers from physical disabilities and has difficulties communicating. Most of them are unmarried or just divorced.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

All inquiries>>

Passion for Arson: Crazy Attraction to Fire

Fire is one of the most sacred symbols, having a deep meaning. We associate human aspirations and character traits with fire. This natural element signifies liveliness, energy, perseverance, strength, courage, aggressiveness, and self-confidence. We associate with fire the process of cleansing our soul, lost in sins and atrocities. Since ancient times, fire has been a guarantor for the survival of mankind in difficult climatic conditions. This element saved us from cold and hunger. Fire protected people from the harsh world, protecting them from wild animals. This power of fire is firmly fixed in the genetic memory of humanity. That is why our contemporaries, like our distant ancestors, love to admire the sparks of a blazing fire and enjoy huddling around the fireplace, trying to achieve unity with nature. But there are also those people whose passion for fire has turned into madness. We can say that their inner world is incinerated by hellfire. Such persons not only idolize this natural element and experience ecstasy from seeing fire. They experience an obsessive, irresistible, painful urge to set fires. The pathological uncontrollable attraction to deliberately starting a fire is scientifically called pyromania. Despite the fact that the first mentions of an insane passion for arson were mentioned in scientific sources back in the first half of the 19th century, and many cases of pyromania have been described over almost two centuries, the origin of this disorder has not been sufficiently studied. However, psychiatrists are of the opinion that pyromania is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, fully meeting the criteria for this pathology. A patient with pyromania is characterized by the occurrence of obsessive thoughts - obsessions. A person suffering from this disorder is consumed by thoughts of fire. His thoughts about fires, arson, and fires constantly overcome him, preventing him from performing household chores and professional duties. Since all the subject’s thoughts are focused exclusively on this natural element, he cannot fully interact in society. A person with pyromania has no friends or acquaintances, except those who, like himself, are not obsessed with fire. Along with obsessions, a patient with pyromania has compulsions - an obsessive, irresistible need to light an open fire. An individual, setting an arson and subsequently observing flaming objects, shows unusual curiosity. He starts the fire deliberately, having previously developed a plan for organizing the arson. A person suffering from pyromania never starts a fire in order to gain material or other benefits. Such a person does not use arson as a way to hide evidence of a crime. Arranged fires and ignition of objects are also not ways of taking revenge on the offender. For him, a fire is also not a means of expressing protest against existing foundations in society. For him, organizing and carrying out arson is the only existing way to relieve nervous tension and get pleasure. Seeing his fiery brainchild, such an individual experiences joy and pleasure, relief and tranquility. At the same time, the patient’s desire to set fire is constantly present: with pyromania, there is no single episode of arson. Patients have a certain “schedule” of arson. After causing a deliberate fire, the subject calms down for a short time. During such a short period of remission, he repeatedly returns to the event that happened, mentally scrolls through the spectacular picture, and experiences lightness and calm. However, after some time, the disorder requires further “feats” from the individual. At the moment of exacerbation of the disease, the individual again has obsessive thoughts about arson. He again begins to develop and think through to the smallest detail a plan for carrying out an arson, without having any incentive to do so. After careful consideration of all aspects, he begins to set fire, because he is unable to resist the emerging impulse. What causes an insane attraction to arson: causes of pyromania

The causes of pyromania are various and varied.
However, in most cases, this disorder is the result of some kind of disruption in the process of personality formation and development. Scientists are absolutely convinced that pyromaniacs are not born, but made. Moreover, the foundation for the emergence of an obsessive craving for arson is formed in childhood and adolescence. One of the likely causes of pyromania is problems in a person’s sex life. Most people suffering from this disorder are unmarried or divorced men. Many of them have severe problems with erection. A significant portion of people suffering from pyromania have had a personal history of negative experiences with the opposite sex. Many patients experience an obsessive fear of intimate contacts, and some do not even dare to make acquaintances with people of the opposite sex. Their personal portrait contains clearly low self-esteem, self-doubt, and conviction of their inadequacy. They assume that any intimate meetings will turn out to be a complete failure. However, the unfulfilled need for sexual activity finds expression in pyromania. Setting fire to such people brings a sensation similar to sexual arousal. In turn, watching fire is a unique method of obtaining the highest pleasure. Therefore, many pyromaniacs describe their feelings at the moment of the fire they set as ecstasy, euphoria, divine pleasure. Almost all people suffering from pyromania were unable to demonstrate their talents and realize their existing potential in real life. They fail to demonstrate their strength and courage to others, although they really want society to appreciate them as courageous and courageous people. That is why subjects who start arson often voluntarily rush to the aid of the fire brigade. Thus, they want to satisfy their need for social recognition. Another reason for pyromania is an uncontrollable passion for power and dominance. Such people are often in a subordinate position and work in low-prestige, low-paid positions. They strive with all their might to gain decent social status and a respectable position in society. However, they lack the qualities needed to lead. For them, setting fires is a way to show others that they are also worth something in life. Demonstrate that other people may be dependent on their wishes. Psychologists have found that often the basis for the formation of pyromania is social humiliation of a person. At the same time, the roots of the problem are often hidden in the improper upbringing of the child. Excessive demands of parents, groundless criticism, groundless reproaches and accusations, lack of unconditional love for the child leads to the fact that the child grows up as a humiliated outcast in society. As a child, he cannot defend his opinion and often finds himself offended and beaten by his peers. Having become a student, he becomes an object of ridicule among his fellow students. Having entered the service, his colleagues assign him the role of a victim. In family relationships, such a subject is a driven slave, obediently fulfilling the whims of his partner. The impossibility of freeing oneself from slavery requires a solution. And setting fires is an option for liberation from the feelings of humiliation inherent in the victim. A likely factor provoking pyromania is the child growing up in a single-parent family, when the boy is raised by one mother. The child passionately desires to have a savior next to him - a brave and courageous father. Arson is a unique solution to this problem. When setting fires, a person hopes that a courageous rescuer will be next to him, who will protect him from life’s adversities. Although such hope is not confirmed in practice, the subject believes that next time this is exactly what will happen. In the scientific community, there is another point of view, according to which the cause of an uncontrollable attraction to fire is the awakening of a primitive instinct in people who are not quite adequate mentally. Such mentally unhealthy subjects simply cannot master their desires and control their actions. In such a situation, pyromania is just a symptom of more complex and dangerous mental disorders. Moreover, even with treatment, such patients experience frequent relapses of the disease. That is, mentally ill individuals become real “serial” arsonists. Judicial practice describes a case where one person, regularly seen by psychiatrists, set fires more than six hundred times. How pyromania manifests itself: signs of an obsessive passion for arson.
Pyromania in its pure form, that is, fully meeting the criteria of this disorder, is recorded quite rarely. However, certain symptoms of the disorder are quite common in psychiatric practice. It should be noted that signs of pyromania can be found in mentally ill people, and in people with neurotic disorders, and in completely normal, from the point of view of the average person, people. At the same time, a pathological attraction to fire can arise in subjects standing on opposite sides of the barricade: both the arsonists themselves who start fires, and the firefighters who put out fires. The following signs may indicate that a person is suffering from pyromania.

• A person experiences an irresistible, uncontrollable urge to commit arson.
• He often thinks about objects and substances that have something to do with the fire.
• The person does not have any incentives, reasons, or motives for arson.
• The patient does not pursue any personal gain; he is not driven by the thirst for profit.
• The crime being committed does not have the goal of taking revenge or punishing the offenders.
• His experience includes more than two deliberate, pre-planned arson attacks.
• The subject is aware of the consequences of his actions and understands that he is committing an illegal act that threatens criminal liability.
• The person is overcome by obsessive thoughts about choosing a suitable object to set on fire. The subject develops a plan to the smallest detail on how to implement a fire.
• He prepares the required equipment in advance.
• Before committing arson, a person feels internal tension and nervousness. Such sensations disappear as soon as he has accomplished his plan.
• The sick person performs the planned event alone, without the help of others.
• When implementing his intention, the individual acts decisively and confidently, without being tormented by doubts.
• The person experiences satisfaction, tranquility and other positive emotions when contemplating the flame.
• A pyromaniac can report a fire himself.
• The subject is present at the scene of the tragedy as a spectator.
• An individual may volunteer to assist firefighters.
• The committed act does not cause him any remorse or repentance.

Pyromania very often debuts in childhood and adolescence. However, in some cases, the disorder begins after the individual has experienced intense psychotraumatic factors. How to get rid of pyromania: treatment methods
Before choosing the right treatment strategy for pyromania, it is necessary to establish whether the patient has a history of a severe mental disorder, for example: schizophrenia. The patient is also required to undergo an examination by a narcologist to exclude or confirm the presence of alcohol dependence. In case of pyromania, it is advisable to conduct a neurological examination with a neuroimaging study aimed at identifying probable organic brain lesions. After examination by specialized specialists, a treatment regimen for pyromania is selected individually. The basis of drug treatment is antipsychotic drugs – neuroleptics. These drugs effectively influence the productive symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, eliminating thought disorders and behavioral disorders. Antipsychotics weaken psychomotor agitation and eliminate affective tension. Among pharmacological drugs for pyromania, serotonergic antidepressants are often used. After a course of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the patient gets rid of annoying, repetitive, uncontrollable thoughts. Benzodiazepine anxiolytics are also used in the treatment of pyromania. Benzodiazepine tranquilizers have a wide range of pharmacological effects: anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), sedative (calming), muscle relaxant (relaxing skeletal muscles). Very often, treatment of pyromania is difficult, since many patients lack the motivation to recover. Therefore, in difficult situations, it is more reasonable to treat a person gripped by a pathological passion for arson in a hospital setting. The main task of the attending physician is to instill in the patient confidence in a possible recovery, to overcome the existing prejudice against the use of psychotropic drugs. In state hospitals, it is customary to use methods of aversive therapy, the purpose of which is to instill in a person unpleasant sensations even from thoughts of arson. However, most psychotherapists consider this method inhumane and ineffective, since the violence exerted has a negative impact on the patient’s well-being. The highest results are achieved by using behavioral techniques aimed at reducing the patient’s sensitivity to intrusive stimuli. The work of psychotherapists is focused on correcting disturbances in personal development and eliminating destructive elements in thinking that provoke the emergence of obsessions. Treatment of pyromania is complemented by elements of emotionally supportive psychotherapy.

Story

In the 1800s, pyromania was considered a concept associated with moral insanity and moral cure, but was not categorized as an impulse control disorder. Pyromania is one of the four recognized types of arson, along with burning for profit, to cover up a crime, and for revenge. Pyromania is the second most common type of arson. Common synonyms for pyromaniac in colloquial English include firebug (US) and fire raiser (UK), but they also refer to arsonists. Pyromania is a rare disorder, with an incidence rate of less than one percent in most studies; In addition, pyromaniacs account for a very small proportion of psychiatric hospitalizations ( ). Pyromania can occur in children as young as three years old, although such cases are rare. Only a small percentage of children and teenagers arrested for arson are child pyromaniacs. Men predominate; one source states that ninety percent of people diagnosed with pyromania are men. Based on a survey of 9,282 Americans using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

, 4th edition, impulse control problems such as gambling, pyromania, and compulsive buying collectively affect 9% of the population ( ). A 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration found that only 14% of fires were started by pyromaniacs and other people with mental illness (). The 1951 Lewis and Yarnell study, one of the largest epidemiological studies ever conducted, found that 39% of those who deliberately set fires were diagnosed with pyromania. harv error: no target: CITEREFThe_Arsonist's_Mind2006 (help) harv error: no target: CITEREFAlspach2005 (help) harv error: no target: CITEREFSmith1999 (help)

Recommendations

1. ^ a b c
   “Pyromania | BehaveNet." behaviorvenet.com. Archived from the original March 3, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
2. Robert E. Hales (2008). "Impulsive disorders not included in other groups." In Stuart K. Yudofsky; Glen O. Gabbard (ed.). American Textbook of Psychiatry on Psychiatry
   . American Psychiatric Pub. item 793. ISBN 9781585622573.
3. Michael B. First; Allen Francis; Harold Alan Pincus (2004). DSM-IV-TR Manual
   . American Psychiatric Pub. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-58562-068-5. Archived from the original September 25, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
4. ^ a b
   Soltys, Stephen M. (February 1, 1992).
   "Pyromania and Fire-Starting." Psychiatric Annals
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   22
   (2): 79–83. Doi:10.3928/0048-5713-19920201-10.
5. Sadock, B.J.; Sadok, V.A. (2008). A Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry by Kaplan and Zadok
   . Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. item 365. ISBN 9780781787468. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
6. "ARSON: SPECIAL ABOUT PYROMANIA." January 1, 1967. Archived from the original May 9, 2015. Magazine requires citation | log = (help)
7. Barker A.F. (1994) Arson: a review of the psychiatric literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
8. (Storm 1998) harv error: no target: CITEREFGale1998 (help)
9. Robert E. Hales: American Textbook of Psychiatry on Psychiatry
   2008, found: Google Books

Diagnostics

When identifying pyromania, the main goal is to distinguish between pathological and intentional arson. In cases of mental disorder, episodes occur without a motivational basis - patients do not seek to gain benefit, take revenge, harm, protest, or hide traces of a crime. The only purpose of arson is to experience the pleasure of watching the combustion process

An important diagnostic task is also to differentiate the urge to set fires as a separate disorder from pyromania as a symptom of mental illness.

In schizophrenia, the organization of fires occurs as an inadequate reaction accompanying delusions or hallucinations. With organic lesions of the central nervous system, arson becomes the result of a violation of volitional regulation and the ability to assess the danger of an act. Patients with chronic alcoholism suffer from obsessions and start fires for fun. In adolescence, pyromania often develops as part of behavioral deviations; it has a dual goal - to experience pleasure and to oppose oneself to other people. Patients are examined by a psychiatrist using a clinical method. To confirm the diagnosis, the following criteria must be identified:

• Number of arson incidents.
  The patient organized 2 or more arson attacks. The episodes are purposeful and thoughtful.
• Positive experiences.
  Before the fire, the patient experienced excitement, anticipation of delight. When observing fire - joy, pleasure, satisfaction. The conversation notes notes of admiration, fanaticism, and pleasure when describing the arson.
• Lack of selfish motives.
  The patient did not have the goal of taking revenge on anyone, hiding the consequences of the crime, or obtaining material gain. Behavior is based on an impulsive desire for pleasure.
• No mental disorders.
  To identify the true form of pyromania, it is necessary to exclude schizophrenia, alcoholic, drug and organic psychosis, dementia, mental retardation, and dissocial personality disorder. If these diseases are suspected, additional diagnostics are carried out.

Sources

• https://depressio.ru/drugie-bolezni/manii/707-piromaniya.html
• https://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/diseases/psychiatric/pyromania

Pathogenesis of pyromania

In psychology, pyromania refers to disorders of impulsive behavior. Usually people first think about their actions and their consequences. If a person realizes the danger or unattractiveness of the desire that has arisen, which is the driver of action, the impulse is extinguished without turning into action.

Impulsive people are those whose actions precede rational thoughts. Consideration of the reasons for the act occurs only after it has been committed. Something similar is noticeable among arsonists. They have an uncontrollable and unmotivated desire to set something on fire, and the sight of a burning fire evokes joy and satisfaction in the souls of these people. At the same time, pleasure comes not only from contemplating the flame and the moment of arson itself, but also from preparing for the event, which completely absorbs a person. Organizing an event, thinking about the moments, waiting for the event already makes the arsonist happy.

The pathogenesis of this phenomenon has not been fully studied by scientists. However, many agree that pyromania is not a full-fledged disease, but just a symptom of some mental pathology against which it develops. Therefore, some people do not experience a special cult of fire, while others are fixated on the idea of ​​becoming its master.

There are several theories that explain man's desire for fire. The first originates in the 20s of the last century. It was founded by the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud, who saw fire as a symbol of sexuality. It’s not for nothing that candles have become an integral part of an intimate and romantic setting.

Fire is primarily heat. It is this feeling that covers a person during sexual arousal. He feels a pleasant warmth spreading throughout his body. Freud associates the shape of fire and the movement of the flame with the male genital organ.

According to this theory, arsonists do not want to profit from what they do. The reason for their actions is the desire for sexual gratification that they experience when looking at the fire. True, this theory does not fully explain the obsession with thoughts of flame and the pleasure of preparing to set fire when a person has not yet experienced the heat itself, except that through self-hypnosis he evokes imaginary sensations.

The second theory is rooted in the past. Ancient people worshiped fire as a source of warmth, light and comfort. This attitude towards fire was formed at the level of instinct, partially lost in the process of evolution. Some people, according to this theory, are not yet able to fight instinctual drives, so at every opportunity they try to identify the object of their affection.

The behavior of arsonists may vary. They can plan an arson for a long time and carefully, choosing the right place and time, without feeling a pitiful attitude towards those affected by their actions, and therefore also actively participate in extinguishing the fire and eliminating its consequences, receiving no less pleasure from it.

This behavior can be explained using another theory, which considers pyromania as one of the possibilities of dominance. A person who wants to be a leader, but does not have the appropriate qualities, with the help of a fire he has committed, has the opportunity for some time to subjugate to his will not only the fire, but also other people who are forced to fight the flame against their will.

According to the same theory, pyromania is an opportunity for self-expression for people rejected by society. In this way, they get rid of the burden of negative emotions and worries about their unfulfillment.

By actively participating in extinguishing the fire, arsonists feel their power over the fire, their benefit. It is this aspect of the firefighting profession that attracts people who are so happy to go to work in the fire department.

Questions and answers

What happens if pyromania is not treated?

Without treatment, the disease progresses and becomes more and more severe. The number of cases of arson is becoming more frequent, and the interval between them is becoming smaller. At the same time, in order to experience satisfaction, the patient sets fire to larger objects, and this leads to the tragic death of many people. As pyromania progresses, a person’s behavior becomes less and less adequate, and they begin to pose a greater danger to society.

Is there any hope for a complete cure for pyromania?

If the disease is registered in the early stages and therapy is carried out, including medication and the work of a psychotherapist, then the prognosis is usually favorable. The patient's behavior is corrected, and actions become productive. But this is provided that the true form of pathology occurs. When pyromania acts as a symptom of schizophrenia, psychosis and other mental disorders, it is difficult to make a prognosis.

Treatment

When treating pyromania, be sure to consider the following:

• the patient’s mental abilities are in most cases weakened and below average;
• the patient also often has problems with psychosexual dysfunction, which also leaves an imprint on the perception of the surrounding world;
• often patients drink large quantities of alcohol, which leads to serious intoxication of the body;
• sometimes adult arsonists become sexually active after committing arson or seeing fire;
• if a person suffering from pyromania also has a concomitant illness in the form of schizophrenia, then it is imperative to take into account the possibility that he has hallucinations or delusional states;
• some patients may commit arson due to organic brain diseases, when the consequences seem impossible to predict.

Treatment of pyromania in each case is purely individual, and can only be prescribed based on the reasons for the person’s behavior.

Experts believe that pyromania itself is a concomitant symptom of a more serious illness. There are cases where it is only possible to keep a person from setting fires under conditions of prison isolation. In isolation, the patient is provided with behavioral therapy, which helps to refrain from committing arson.

If a small child suffers from pyromania, then only specialists should work with him, who must take into account that his psyche is very vulnerable. Children should never be punished, this will not have the desired effect; it is much better to carry out psychotherapeutic measures.

Links

1. ^ George A. Sakheim; Elizabeth Osborne (1999). "Repetition of the stern and frivolous fire-casters." Child protection
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   78
   (4):411–433. PMID.
2. International Association of Fire Chiefs, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fire Administration (1988). Children's Firefighter's Handbook: Ages 7–13
   (microfiche).
3. ^ Joyce Pollinger; Laura Samuels; Robert Stadolnik (summer 2005). "A comparative study of behavioral, personality and fire characteristics of adolescents in residential and outpatient settings (ages 12-17 years) with agitating behavior." Adolescence
   .
   40
   (158): 345–353. PMID.

What is Pathological arson (pyromania)

What causes Pathological burning (pyromania)

Unknown. Considered as a variant of hidden aggression. An increased attraction to fire is characteristic of childhood and especially adolescence.

Symptoms of Pathological Arson (pyromania)

Multiple acts or attempts of arson without obvious motive, as well as thoughts about objects related to fire and combustion. There may be an abnormal interest in fire fighting vehicles and equipment, other items related to fire and calling the fire brigade.

Which doctors should you contact if you have Pathological burning (pyromania)

Psychiatrist

What is pyromania

Pyromania as a disease term comes from the ancient Greek “passion or attraction to fire.” The deviation was first described at the beginning of the 19th century, but is still being studied. Teenagers and young children raised in dysfunctional families often have a tendency to set fire. Treatment of pyromania is carried out mainly in males from 14 to 30 years old, since the peak incidence occurs at this age. Among women, this disorder is extremely rare.

This desire disorder may be primary, but sometimes it accompanies other mental disorders, so the patient in some cases requires consultation with a psychiatrist to identify schizophrenia, as well as treatment for psychosis of organic and alcoholic origin.

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Complications and consequences of pyromania

It is easier to cope with childhood pyromania, because at an early stage of development it is always easier to overcome pathological dependence. In most cases, a few sessions with a psychologist are enough to correct the child’s behavior and help overcome the abnormal desire for fire. Additionally, if pyromania is a symptom of other underlying abnormalities, early diagnosis will facilitate prompt and effective treatment.

Pyromania syndrome tends to develop. If in the early stages of pathology arson occurs from time to time, then gradually the arsonist begins to get a taste for it, he needs more and more positive sensations that fire gives. As the syndrome develops, cases of unmotivated arson have become more frequent, and curing the disease becomes much more difficult, because a person develops a clear association of fire with the boundless pleasure that he can so easily obtain.

As we have already said, the danger of children's pyromania lies in the inability to predict the consequences of their actions. A child's game with matches can end in disaster not only for strangers, but also for the child himself, who does not see a clear danger to his life.

Pyromania against the background of alcoholism and mental disorders is no less dangerous than in children, since the patient does not control his actions, from which he can suffer and harm other people. At the same time, related pathologies in one body only aggravate the course of others, causing various complications.

The danger of pyromania also lies in the fact that each of us can become a victim of a person who is fanatical about fire. The choice of an object for arson occurs spontaneously, which means that victims who may accidentally find themselves near or inside a burning object at that moment will not even suspect that a crime is being committed against them. And this crime has no motive.