can we "profile" bushfire firelighters?

In a recent edition of "Psychiatry, Psychology and Law" researchers looked at whether fire lighters are psychologically different from non fire lighters. They wanted to know if it is possible to identify characteristics of a fire lighter that can predict if they will re-offend.

There has been research previously published categorising fire setters in a urban setting in other countries but there does not seem to be any clear previously published look at Australian bush fire lighters. In urban setting there has been a few categories identified. There are the people who light fires for financial gain or to cover a another crime. There are people who light fires because they are angry with the world and want the world to know. There are a disproportionate number of fire setters who are mentally ill or disordered. They might have schizophrenia or have alcohol or drug problems. There are a small number who are known as pyromaniacs, those people who are unable to resist the urge for fire setting and have increased tension before the act.

when risk factors for fire setting is looked at a list of characteristics are roughly agreed on. The offenders tend to be young males with interpersonal difficulties and alcohol or drug addictions, show evidence of unstable childhoods and some form of mental health problems. In other words they are pretty much the same as all offenders.

So far, then, the research says that fire lighters are just like all other offenders and that fire lighting is to some degree just another criminal activity. Mmmmm.......