90% of fires in Cyprus are provoked by people. In 2024, 6717 fires occurred. The main reason was malicious actions: 3654 fires occurred due to breeding a fire without permission, 797-due to arson of garbage. Psychologists explain that it is worth the desire of some people to arrange a fire.
Psychiatrist Yorgos Micellidis said that the clinical definition of pyromania is significantly different from a popular look. “The term“ Pyromanus ”describes a person with a manic attraction to the fire. This person experiences stress before his action and a certain form of relief or pleasure during or after him, ”said the psychiatrist. Clinical pyromanians experience internal stress and emotional discharge similar to addictive behavior.
However, the psychiatrist noted that not all the arsonists are pouring. In most cases, arson is made for other reasons: economic, personal, ideological, or even for self -affirmation.
The behavior of the arsonists is due to many factors, including a sense of powerlessness or a desire to become noticeable in society. In other cases, it can be anger or revenge for personal experiences, for example, loss of work, a break with a loved one, conflicts with others, rejection from society.
Often, incidents are also based on economic motifs.
“Many fires are explained by mercantile interests. They are associated with plans for the operation and development of land "
, - said the doctor.
The category of persons who can potentially arrange a fire includes: - people with personality disorder (antisocial or borderline features) - people with low self -esteem, striving to control their lives, people with mental illness, in which inadequate judgment determines the behavior. - clinical pyromanins.
Most of the arsonists are fully aware of their actions.
“Persons who demonstrate such behavior usually fully realize what they are doing, and, therefore, can be responsible for this by law.”
- - confirmed Micellidis.
The mental state of the arsonist after the incident may vary depending on the category. Clinical pyromanians, diluting fire, often experience temporary pleasure or a feeling of completeness and relief. Subsequently, guilt or depression may occur, especially if the fire had serious consequences, for example, led to human victims.
However, conscious arsonists behave completely differently. “They usually try to justify or rationalize their actions. Few show sincere repentance, except in the case when their actions led to human victims, ”says Dr. Micellidis.
The third category of arsonists - people with mental illness - often deny their responsibility or do not pay attention to the consequences of their actions at all. So they have psychological defense.
Clinical intervention depends on the type of pyromania. “When someone is considered a pyroman in a strictly psychiatric sense, that is, it shows an impulsive attraction to fire without external motives, this means a violation of control over impulses. These people should be under the supervision of a psychiatrist, can be limited in movement and subjected to therapy, ”Micellidis explained. In Cyprus, anger management programs, the development of empathy and social skills are operating.
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If we really want to deal with this phenomenon, we must approach the problem and people not only legally, but also psychosocial. "
- concluded Micellidis.
The text is prepared based on the materials in Cyprus.
