Juvenile Firesetting Literature Review

The literature and researches dedicated to juvenile firesetting prior to the 1980's are sparse; it has received little attention both in the academic literature and in the media. Stadolnik (2000) mentioned that the total number of pieces of credible research sources on juvenile firesetting behavior is less than three hundreds while the number of research papers on other behavior disorders numbers in thousands. Furthermore, Slavkin (2000) remarked that, despite the costs and impact of juvenile firesetting, it remains a little studied area of research.

In the following review of literature about juvenile firesetting, prominent and influential researches have been discussed. Since the juvenile firesetting considered as a problem, therefore

Social-learning model: In 1986, Kolko and Kazdin presented the social-learning model of firesetting that identified factors within three major domains that increase the risk of juvenile firesetting behavior: (1) learning experiences and cues, (2) personal repertoire, and (3) parent and family influences and stressors.

Taking each domain in details; the domain of learning experiences and cues include a child’s early experiences with fire through parents or peers, and the availability of incendiary materials. While the domain of personal repertoire described as the cognitive components such as limited fire-awareness and fire safety skills, behavioral components, and motivational components.

The last domain, the parent and family influences and stressors include limited supervision and monitoring, parental distance and uninvolvement, parental pathology and limitations, and stressful external events.

The implications of the social-learning model highlight the diversity of domains related to juvenile firesetting, thus the model has important implications for the prediction, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and classification of

The authors noted that, the overwhelming majority of samples in published firesetting articles have been North American. According to this study, as of that time, juvenile firesetting had never been empirically evaluated in Italy. The study found that, almost one in three Italian juveniles report engaging in fire involvement - slightly lower than prevalence rates reported in North America.

Consistent with previous research, Italian firesetters were more likely to exhibit aggressive and delinquent behavior than non-firesetters, and were more likely to engage in covert antisocial behaviors such as lying, stealing, and vandalism.

Interestingly, the notion of the firesetting triad - firesetting, cruelty to animals, and enuresis - appeared in the Italian sample, highlighting firesetters’ particular difficulties with self-regulation, impulse control and excitement