TY - JOUR
T1 - Offence-specific scripts among juvenile deliberate firesetters: a possible explanation for fire proclivity
AU - Perks, Danielle
AU - Watt, Bruce D.
AU - Fritzon, Katarina
PY - 2023/4/25
Y1 - 2023/4/25
N2 - The study employed inductive-thematic analysis to identify dynamic cognitive-emotional processes occurring in proximity to deliberate firesetting among a sample of N= 35 adjudicated juvenile firesetters. Six fire-specific themes were determined. Three of these themes are akin to an implicit theory (i.e. a belief system informed by previous experiences): Fire Interest, Fire is Controllable, and Fire Denial/Accidental. Three of these themes are consistent with a cognitive script (i.e. a behavioural guide for how and when to use fire): (a) fire is destructive; (b) fire conceals evidence; and (c) fire creates calm. When reviewed more closely, the theme ‘fire is destructive’ is composed of two separate subcategories: ‘fire creates destructive fun’ and ‘fire is a destructive tool for revenge’. The findings have risk assessment and treatment implications for juvenile firesetters.
AB - The study employed inductive-thematic analysis to identify dynamic cognitive-emotional processes occurring in proximity to deliberate firesetting among a sample of N= 35 adjudicated juvenile firesetters. Six fire-specific themes were determined. Three of these themes are akin to an implicit theory (i.e. a belief system informed by previous experiences): Fire Interest, Fire is Controllable, and Fire Denial/Accidental. Three of these themes are consistent with a cognitive script (i.e. a behavioural guide for how and when to use fire): (a) fire is destructive; (b) fire conceals evidence; and (c) fire creates calm. When reviewed more closely, the theme ‘fire is destructive’ is composed of two separate subcategories: ‘fire creates destructive fun’ and ‘fire is a destructive tool for revenge’. The findings have risk assessment and treatment implications for juvenile firesetters.
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2023.2175067
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2023.2175067
M3 - Article
SN - 1321-8719
JO - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
JF - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
ER -