1,427
Views
10
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Gender-based types of firesetting: clinical, behavioural and motivational differences among female and male firesetters

, , &
Pages 273-291 | Received 06 Jun 2019, Accepted 10 Jan 2020, Published online: 31 Jan 2020
 

ABSTRACT

The literature examining gender differences in the aetiology and course of firesetting is limited. This study used a sample of 32 female firesetters and 64 male firesetter-controls, matched for age, to explore (dis)similarities across 45 variables. Multidimensional scaling and Chi-square tests showed that most female firesetting fit within a ‘Dysregulated Type’, wherein the firesetting arose in the context of personality disorder, most likely borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and mood dysregulation, and was associated with the motive to relieve or express frustration. Conversely, firesetting for revenge in the context of intimate partner violence, and firesetting to illegally profit financially, was indicated as more attributable to male firesetters. Increased psychopathology and the self-regulating function of firesetting among women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder were highlighted. The implications for formulating female firesetting were also discussed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Firesetting within the literature is a broader term used to describe the deliberate lighting of fires and is preferred to arson, which is a category of offending (Dickens, Sugarman, & Gannon, Citation2012).

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 375.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.