中華心理衛生協會

This study investigated the firesetting behavior, and the prevalence, recidivism and nature of arson motives in male juvenile delinquents. We used a questionnaire to survey and collect data from 917 male juvenile delinquents in Taiwan's reformatory schools. The results showed that the firesetting behavior of male juvenile delinquents was significantly associated with violent, property-seeking, and sexual crime behavior. With respect to the most prevalent motives in the firesetting behavior, it was found to be irrational reasons, pleasure-seeking, and vandalism (i.e., the deliberate damaging of public property). Among the different motives, the recurrence of the firesetting delinquents in the age group of 12 to 15 is different from the age group of 16 to 18 years old juveniles. Nonetheless, the probability to recommit firesetting behavior is higher for the following motives: irrational reasons, vandalism, pleasure-seeking, crime concealment, and revenge. In particular, the more diversified motives of the juvenile firesetters, the higher of the recidivistic risks are. The factor analysis shows there are three factors in the nature of the arson motives which are expressive, instrumental, and antisocial factor. Finally, a comparison of the results of the juveniles with those of the adult firesetters was discussed.