Pyromania
| Pyromania | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Garbage container damaged by fire | |
| Specialty | Psychiatry, clinical psychology |
| Symptoms | Impulsive starting of fires |
| Causes | Parental neglect, early physical or emotional abuse, early observation of inappropriate fire usage |
Pyromania is an impulse-control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires. An individual with pyromania deliberately sets fires on more than one occasion, and before the act of lighting the fire, the person usually experiences tension and an emotional buildup.
When around fires, a person with pyromania gains intense interest or fascination, and may also experience pleasure or relief. A common cause of pyromania is the buildup of stress in one's life.
Pyromania is distinct from arson, which is the deliberate setting of fires for personal, monetary, or political gain. Individuals with pyromania may start fires to release anxiety and tension, or for arousal.