Enuresis, fire setting, and animal cruelty: A useful danger signal in predicting vulnerability of adolescent males to assaultive behavior

Abstract

Current shifts in corrective and rehabilitation planning result in an emphasis upon primary prevention efforts involving early identification and intervention with vulnerable children who run high risk of serious adolescent and adult delinquency. A variety of observers have argued that the presence of a combination of observable problem behaviors documented in childhood is related to ego weakness and may have value as a predictor of explosive acting out in later life. The present study examines a number of institutionalized adolescent male delinquents whose recent history contains reference to a triad of behaviors (persistent enuresis, fire setting, and animal cruelty). Not only does the predictive validity of the triad appear to be supported, but the cases cited rank highest among overtly dangerous assaultive youth seen in the Southern California Youth Authority during the 12-month observation period. Presented is a summary of case history data supporting the hypothesis that the triad is a useful clinical tool in the prediction of violent behavior.Various social sciences have long struggled with issues concerning behavioral prediction. The applied behavioral sciences, particularly in the areas of correction and allied rehabilitation, have often seized upon concepts such as the psychological test profile, body type

Child Firesetters: A Clinical Investigation

“…Controversial associations of firesetting have been proposed. Enuresis may form an intracorrelated triad with firesetting and cruelty to animals (Heilman & Blackman, 1966), which is claimed to predict some adult aggressive crimes (Wax & Haddox, 1974). The 'sexual roots' of pyromania, which derived from highly selected observations that compulsive masturbation, impotence and fetishism were associated with fireraising (Schmid, 1914), have been recently reaffirmed in certain prison populations (Sapsford, Banks & Smith, 1978).…”

Knowledge and attitudes of Australian veterinarians to animal abuse and human interpersonal violence

“…Early research in this area focussed on a hypothesised triad of behaviours in children that appeared to be predictive of violence: enuresis, fire setting and cruelty to animals. [1][2][3] One review that supported a link between the predictors and interpersonal violence concluded that abusive acts to socially valued animals are more likely to be associated with interpersonal violence than are abuses of less socially valued animals. This association appears to be strongest among people who exhibit repeated acts of animal cruelty and recurrent violence against people.…”

Dangerous Children: Assessment and Management of Risk

“…Traditionally, fire‐setting, along with animal cruelty and enuresis, has been seen as a marker of high risk to others in children (Wax & Haddox, 1974). An increased frequency of this combination of symptoms was reported more frequently in aggressive as opposed to non‐violent criminal offenders (Hellman & Blackman, 1966).…”

“…Traditionally, fire-setting, along with animal cruelty and enuresis, has been seen as a marker of high risk to others in children (Wax & Haddox, 1974). An increased frequency of this combination of symptoms was…”