Correlation Between Arson And Pyromania
In the United States, over 62,000 arsons are committed annually, amounting to over $1 billion in damages (Burton, McNeil, & Binder, 2012). There is a strong correlation between arson and individuals with psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse tendencies (Burton et al., 2012). There are many terms associated with arson, often which are confused. Fire-setting refers to the actual act of setting a fire, arson is the crime charged for fire-setting, and pyromania is a psychiatric diagnosis often too strongly affiliated with arson (Burton et al., 2012). Only about 23% of fire-setting incidences are committed by individuals who have pyromania (Johnson & Netherton, 2017). Fire-setting engaged in willingly and maliciously is considered arson, regardless
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They explained that conscious will is the result of a causal illusion, and it is nearly impossible to pinpoint that our thoughts have caused our actions and not vice versa. It seems as though Nichols clearly and intently devised his plan to set fire to a house while five people were inside, especially with his strategy to block all exits. However, Wegner & Wheatley (1999) would argue that it was an illusion, and Nichols might have acted before he thought. One of the main issues with this is the idea of determinism (Wegner & Wheatley, 1999). Determinism believes that the everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen, is predetermined. In this sense, there is no room for free will, and no point in an individual doing anything or considering having done otherwise. This brings about the issue of moral responsibility. If an individual is not truly free to choose their actions, how can they justly be held morally and/or legally responsible for them (Wegner & Wheatley, 1999). If Nichols’ life path of arson and crime were predetermined, there is no way he could have lived any other life. Trying to comprehend that our lives in totality have been chosen for us, by a bigger entity than ourselves is both a terrifying and frustrating concept to
They explained that conscious will is the result of a causal illusion, and it is nearly impossible to pinpoint that our thoughts have caused our actions and not vice versa. It seems as though Nichols clearly and intently devised his plan to set fire to a house while five people were inside, especially with his strategy to block all exits. However, Wegner & Wheatley (1999) would argue that it was an illusion, and Nichols might have acted before he thought. One of the main issues with this is the idea of determinism (Wegner & Wheatley, 1999). Determinism believes that the everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen, is predetermined. In this sense, there is no room for free will, and no point in an individual doing anything or considering having done otherwise. This brings about the issue of moral responsibility. If an individual is not truly free to choose their actions, how can they justly be held morally and/or legally responsible for them (Wegner & Wheatley, 1999). If Nichols’ life path of arson and crime were predetermined, there is no way he could have lived any other life. Trying to comprehend that our lives in totality have been chosen for us, by a bigger entity than ourselves is both a terrifying and frustrating concept to