@article{ref1,
title="Male imprisoned firesetters have different characteristics than other imprisoned offenders and require specialist treatment",
journal="Psychiatry interpersonal and biological processes",
year="2013",
author="Gannon, Theresa A. and Ciardha, Caoilte Ó and Barnoux, Magali F. L. and Tyler, Nichola and Mozova, Katarina and Alleyne, Emma K. A.",
volume="76",
number="4",
pages="349-364",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether a group of firesetters (n = 68) could be distinguished, psychologically, from a matched group of non-firesetting offenders (n = 68).   METHOD: Participants completed measures examining psychological variables relating to fire, emotional/self-regulation, social competency, self-concept, boredom proneness, and impression management. Official prison records were also examined to record offending history and other offense-related variables. A series of MANOVAs were conducted with conceptually related measures identified as the dependent variables. Follow-up discriminant function and clinical cut-off score analyses were also conducted to examine the best discriminating variables for firesetters.   RESULTS: Firesetters were clearly distinguishable, statistically, from non-firesetters on three groups of conceptually related measures relating to: fire, emotional/self-regulation, and self-concept. The most successful variables for the discrimination of firesetters determined via statistical and clinical significance testing were higher levels of anger-related cognition, interest in serious fires, and identification with fire and lower levels of perceived fire safety awareness, general self-esteem, and external locus of control.   CONCLUSIONS: Firesetters appear to be a specialist group of offenders who hold unique psychological characteristics. Firesetters are likely to require specialist treatment to target these psychological needs as opposed to generic offending behavior programs.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0033-2747",
doi="10.1521/psyc.2013.76.4.349",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/psyc.2013.76.4.349"
}