Features and motivators of emotionally expressive firesetters: the assessment of women in secure psychiatric settings
| Pages | 129-142 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-08-2013-0022 |
| Date | 09 September 2014 |
| Published date | 09 September 2014 |
| Author | Clive G. Long,Geoffrey Dickens,Olga Dolley |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology |
Features and motivators of emotionally
expressive firesetters: the assessment
of women in secure psychiatric settings
Clive G. Long, Geoffrey Dickens and Olga Dolley
Professor Clive G. Long is
an Associate Director of
Psychology and Psychological
Therapies, based at
St Andrew’s Healthcare,
Northampton and University
of Northampton,
Northampton, UK.
Dr Geoffrey Dickens is a
Professor in Psychiatric
Nursing, based at
St Andrew’s Healthcare, and
the University of Northampton,
Northampton, UK.
Olga Dolley is a Trainee
Forensic Clinical Psychologist,
based at St Andrew’s
Healthcare – Psychology,
St Andrew’s Academic Centre,
University of Northampton,
Northampton, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the antecedent behaviours and consequences of
firesetting for women in a secure psychiatric setting along with treatment engagement factors. To explore
predictions made about emotionally expressive subtype firesetters by the multi-trajectory theory of adult
firesetting (M-TTAF).
Design/methodology/approach – In total, 75 individual firesetting episodes involving 25 female multiple
firesetters were assessed using the St Andrew’s Fire and Arson Risk Instrument. Assessments were made
of treatment readiness, firesetting related self-efficacy, insight and barriers to change.
Findings – Findings support the relationship between recidivist firesetting and the psychological features of
psychosis, personality disorder and substance misuse. The reported association of firesetting with suicidal
thoughts, depression, interpersonal problems, anger/revenge motivation and lack of planning supports the
view that behaviour is used to manage distressing life experience and as a “cry for help”. However, in a
quarter of incidents there was an intention to harm others and evidence of premeditation in twelve percent.
A small but significant minority lacked insight into their behaviour,were not ready for treatment and had low
firesetting related self-efficacy.Predictions made by the M-TTAF about likely clinical features and motivators
of emotionally expressive firesetters were largely supported.
Originality/value – The study highlights the importance of a detailed and specific risk assessment
of firesetting that leads to identification of individual risk factors and an individualised treatment approach.
This is of particular importance given the complex problems presented by women in secure settings and by
the diversity of the conditions associated with fires set by each individual.
Keywords Women, Arson, Fire setting assessment, Secure psychiatric care
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Research to date suggests that firesetters do not differ from other offenders across many
variables (Doley and Watt, 2012) and that male and female firesetters share demographic
features (Gannon and Pina, 2010). Female firesetters do not differ from other female patients
in terms of psychopathology (Long et al., in press), but may have higher levels of depression and
psychoses relative to males (Bradford, 1982; Dickens et al., 2007; Rix, 1994). Gannon et al.
(2012) note that the literature on reasons for female-perpetrated firesetting is scant, but women
may be more likely to set fires as a “cry for help” than men (Dickens et al., 2007), to report
firesetting in the context of distressing life experiences (Cunningham et al., 2011) and to commit
their offences in or close to their place of residence (Wachi et al., 2007; Long et al., in press).
Earlier studies (Stewart, 1993; Tennant et al., 1971) reported common motivators for women to
be revenge, attention seeking, conflict with authority (hospital, prison, work) and self-harm.
Stewart (1993) found that over a third of her sample had multiple motives for firesetting (e.g.
revenge and mental illness) and that for 20 per cent firesetting was instrumental.
DOI 10.1108/JCP-08-2013-0022 VOL. 4 NO. 2 2014, pp. 129-142, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
j
PAGE 129
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