6 results
2.7 - Arson
- from Part II - Psychology and Criminal Behaviour
- Edited by Jennifer M. Brown, London School of Economics and Political Science, Miranda A. H. Horvath
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- Book:
- The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology
- Published online:
- 02 December 2021
- Print publication:
- 09 December 2021, pp 296-316
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- Chapter
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Summary
Recent literature has contributed to a greater understanding of the characteristics, motives, risk factors and treatment targets of individuals with firesetting histories. The current chapter will discuss the latest theoretical and empirical literature on firesetting, and will provide an overview of findings in relation to the general characteristics of firesetters, theories of firesetting, particular characteristics associated with juvenile and female firesetting, as well as risk assessment and management. The chapter will conclude with discussion of two treatment programs that have been developed to address the specific etiological pathways believed to be associated with firesetting, and provide some tentative evidence supporting their effectiveness.
2 - Theories on arson: the action systems model
- from Part I - Theory and research
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- By Katarina Fritzon, Bond University, Queensland, Australia
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- Book:
- Firesetting and Mental Health
- Published by:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published online:
- 25 February 2017, pp 28-47
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Summary
This chapter develops an account of the utility of psychological models as an aid to understanding the crime of arson. A brief overview of some of the theories and typologies previously espoused is first presented. As its main focus the chapter then defines and provides an account of an ‘action systems’ model, which, in contrast to other arson typologies, produces empirically testable hypotheses. It goes on to describe how this model posits arson, and other crimes, as explicable along two axes relating to the arson target (object or person) and the arson objective (expressive or instrumental). The use of multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis to map the characteristics of arson and arsonists onto these four modes is also described. The idea is developed of arsonists with psychiatric history as a distinct group, and the relationships between this distinct group of arsonists and the various arson modes are explored. The chapter lastly summarises how a typology based on arson mode and arsonist characteristics might affect clinical treatment.
Throughout the chapter the term ‘arson’ is used to denote adults who have set fires that in most cases would meet the legal criteria for arson. However, some studies are cited that include individuals who self-reported firesetting behaviour and were not necessarily convicted in court. Thus, these individuals are legally speaking not ‘arsonists’; however, for simplicity the term ‘arson’ is used consistently throughout.
Arson and psychopathology
Much of what is known about adult arsonists is derived from studies of mentally disordered offenders. Studies based on these populations have informed ideas about what risk factors can predict arson recidivism (Dickens et al, 2009) as well as the primary treatment goals that might prevent reoffending (Swaffer et al, 2001). Whereas the literature on juvenile arson draws largely on community samples (Kolko & Kazdin, 1990; Kolko, 2002), adult arsonists mainly come to the attention of clinicians and researchers through the criminal justice system. Therefore research has relied on groups of incarcerated offenders – often in psychiatric institutions – to inform theories about motivations, characteristics and treatment needs.
Investigating the Relationship Between Social Support and Durable Return to Work
- Bruce D. Watt, Lucas Ford, Rebekah M. Doley, Sabrina Ong, Richard E. Hicks, Katarina Fritzon, Tony Cacciola
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- Journal:
- The Australasian Journal of Organisational Psychology / Volume 8 / 2015
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 April 2015, e3
- Print publication:
- 2015
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- Article
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The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between social support and durable return to work (RTW) post occupational injury. A total of 1,179 questionnaires were posted to clients previously receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the Return to Work Assist program in Queensland, Australia. Participants were asked to indicate their current RTW status, in addition to completing questionnaires measuring their relationship with their superior, relationships with colleagues, and social support external to the workplace. The statistical analysis included 110 participants. An ANOVA indicated that participants in the RTW group reported significantly better relationships with their superiors and colleagues than participants in the non-durable RTW group. No significant differences were observed between the RTW, non-durable RTW and no RTW groups on a measure of social support external to the workplace. Although the findings were limited by the low response rate, an evaluation of demographics indicated the respondents were representative of the original target sample. The findings suggested that providing support in the workplace is an important area for intervention and may be a means of increasing durable RTW outcomes.
2 - Theories on arson: the action systems model
- from Part I - Theory and research
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- By Katarina Fritzon, Associate Professor, Bond University, Queensland, Australia
- Edited by Geoffrey L. Dickins, Philip A. Sugarman, Teresa A. Gannon
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- Book:
- Firesetting and Mental Health
- Published online:
- 02 January 2018
- Print publication:
- 01 February 2012, pp 28-47
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
This chapter develops an account of the utility of psychological models as an aid to understanding the crime of arson. A brief overview of some of the theories and typologies previously espoused is first presented. As its main focus the chapter then defines and provides an account of an ‘action systems’ model, which, in contrast to other arson typologies, produces empirically testable hypotheses. It goes on to describe how this model posits arson, and other crimes, as explicable along two axes relating to the arson target (object or person) and the arson objective (expressive or instrumental). The use of multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis to map the characteristics of arson and arsonists onto these four modes is also described. The idea is developed of arsonists with psychiatric history as a distinct group, and the relationships between this distinct group of arsonists and the various arson modes are explored. The chapter lastly summarises how a typology based on arson mode and arsonist characteristics might affect clinical treatment.
Throughout the chapter the term ‘arson’ is used to denote adults who have set fires that in most cases would meet the legal criteria for arson. However, some studies are cited that include individuals who self-reported firesetting behaviour and were not necessarily convicted in court. Thus, these individuals are legally speaking not ‘arsonists’; however, for simplicity the term ‘arson’ is used consistently throughout.
Arson and psychopathology
Much of what is known about adult arsonists is derived from studies of mentally disordered offenders. Studies based on these populations have informed ideas about what risk factors can predict arson recidivism (Dickens et al, 2009) as well as the primary treatment goals that might prevent reoffending (Swaffer et al, 2001). Whereas the literature on juvenile arson draws largely on community samples (Kolko & Kazdin, 1990; Kolko, 2002), adult arsonists mainly come to the attention of clinicians and researchers through the criminal justice system. Therefore research has relied on groups of incarcerated offenders – often in psychiatric institutions – to inform theories about motivations, characteristics and treatment needs. The current chapter summarises a number of theoretical perspectives on arson that are derived from this literature, while acknowledging that much of this existing knowledge may not apply to a broader sample of arsonists who either have no mental disorder or have not been convicted.
6.1 - Arson
- from Part VI - Special topics
- Edited by Jennifer M. Brown, London School of Economics and Political Science, Elizabeth A. Campbell, University of Glasgow
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- Book:
- The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology
- Published online:
- 06 July 2010
- Print publication:
- 29 April 2010, pp 623-629
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Summary
Persons who commit arson attract a variety of clinical diagnoses, most commonly personality disorder, intellectual impairment, psychotic illness and substance use disorder. This chapter provides an overview of findings from both the investigative and clinical literature on arson. Arson can be can be used for financial gain, but it is also an act of interpersonal violence. Other motives include vandalism, anger, communication, psychosis, extremism (for example, animal liberation groups) or political motives. There are four distinct modes of arson, each with corresponding offender characteristics: adaptive, conservative, integrative, and expressive. In recent years a number of private and publicly funded secure hospitals within the UK have developed and run specific treatment programmes for persons convicted of arson offences. In the absence of recidivism data, an alternative approach to measuring intervention success is offered by recent literature on 'offence paralleling behaviour'.
Contributors
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- By Joanne R. Adler, David A. Alexander, Laurence Alison, Catherine C. Ayoub, Peter Banister, Anthony R. Beech, Amanda Biggs, Julian Boon, Adrian Bowers, Neil Brewer, Eric Broekaert, Paula Brough, Jennifer M. Brown, Kevin Browne, Elizabeth A. Campbell, David Canter, Michael Carlin, Shihning Chou, Martin A. Conway, Claire Cooke, David Cooke, Ilse Derluyn, Robert J. Edelmann, Vincent Egan, Tom Ellis, Marie Eyre, David P. Farrington, Seena Fazel, Daniel B. Fishman, Victoria Follette, Katarina Fritzon, Elizabeth Gilchrist, Nathan D. Gillard, Renée Gobeil, Agnieszka Golec de Zavala, Jane Goodman-Delahunty, Lynsey Gozna, Don Grubin, Gisli H. Gudjonsson, Helinä Häkkänen-Nyholm, Guy Hall, Nathan Hall, Roisin Hall, Sean Hammond, Leigh Harkins, Grant T. Harris, Camilla Herbert, Robert D. Hoge, Todd E. Hogue, Clive R. Hollin, Lorraine Hope, Miranda A. H. Horvath, Kevin Howells, Carol A. Ireland, Jane L. Ireland, Mark Kebbell, Michael King, Bruce D. Kirkcaldy, Heidi La Bash, Cara Laney, William R. Lindsay, Elizabeth F. Loftus, L. E. Marshall, W. L. Marshall, James McGuire, Neil McKeganey, T. M. McMillan, Mary McMurran, Joav Merrick, Becky Milne, Joanne M. Nadkarni, Claire Nee, M. D. O’Brien, William O’Donohue, Darragh O’Neill, Jane Palmer, Adria Pearson, Derek Perkins, Devon L. L. Polaschek, Louise E. Porter, Charlotte C. Powell, Graham E. Powell, Martine Powell, Christine Puckering, Ethel Quayle, Vernon L. Quinsey, Marnie E. Rice, Randall Richardson-Vejlgaard, Richard Rogers, Louis B Schlesinger, Carolyn Semmler, G. A. Serran, Ralph C. Serin, John L. Taylor, Max Taylor, Brian Thomas-Peter, Paul A. Tiffin, Graham Towl, Rosie Travers, Arlene Vetere, Graham Wagstaff, Helen Wakeling, Fiona Warren, Brandon C. Welsh, David Wexler, Margaret Wilson, Dan Yarmey, Susan Young
- Edited by Jennifer M. Brown, London School of Economics and Political Science, Elizabeth A. Campbell, University of Glasgow
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- Book:
- The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology
- Published online:
- 06 July 2010
- Print publication:
- 29 April 2010, pp xix-xxiii
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- Chapter
- Export citation