Arson for revenge: The role of environmental situation, age, sex, and race

Functional consistency across two behavioural modalities: fire‐setting and self‐harm in female special hospital patients

“…Thus, whilst the principal source is external, the aim of the action is to rectify the emotional state generated by the external incident. A number of studies have identified that motives for fire-setting are revenge, hatred or jealousy (Tennant et al, 1971;Pettiway, 1987;Bourget and Bradford, 1989). Harris and Rice hypothesise that some people set fires to gain revenge because they are unable to express anger towards their victims directly (1996).…”

The Multi-Trajectory Theory of Adult Firesetting (M-TTAF)

“…(e.g., jealousy). This early typology was groundbreaking since it laid the groundwork for other researchers to build upon and test this typology (i.e., fertility; see Bradford, 1982), and research evidence supports some of the key categories (e.g., revenge; Inciardi, 1970;Koson & Dvoskin, 1982;Pettiway, 1987;Rix, 1994). However, group membership criteria are poorly outlined and no reliability or general classification validation figures are provided by Lewis and Yarnell (1951).…”

“…Inciardi (1970) examined the case files of all firesetters released on parole from New York state prisons in a six year period (1961)(1962)(1963)(1964)(1965)(1966) and observed six firesetter categories: revenge, (i.e., vengeance) excitement (i.e., pyromania type traits), institutionalized (i.e., firesetting in mental health facilities in order to be relocated), insurance claim (i.e., firesetting to obtain economic reward), vandalism (i.e., firesetting for fun), and crime concealment (i.e., firesetting to conceal another criminal act). Again, key strengths of this typology relate to the fact that (a) many of the categories have been empirically supported by other researchers (e.g., revenge, Koson & Dvoskin, 1982;Pettiway, 1987;Rix, 1994 and excitement, vandalism, and crime concealment;Icove & Estepp, 1987), and (b) because of the descriptive detail provided about firesetters representing each category, this classification offers fertility for possible clinical work. Nevertheless, although this typology was able to classify all 138 firesetters in the sample, very little detail is given about the method of group classification used and no inter-rater reliability statistics are detailed.…”

The revenge motive in delinquency

“…Felson et al (2000) found that many incidents involving acquaintance robbery were motivated by personal grievances. Pettiway (1987) found that 53.5% of individuals arrested for arson were motivated by revenge. These results are consistent with Black's (1983: 38) suggestion that seemingly senseless and random acts of vandalism may in fact be premeditated acts of revenge.…”