Pyrophilia

Pyrophilia

Pyrophilia is a relatively uncommon paraphilia in which the patient derives gratification from fire and fire-starting activity. It is distinguished from pyromania by the gratification being of a sexual nature.

Description

While the erotic focus immediately raises the diagnostic issue of pyromania, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV classifies this disorder as an impulse-control disorder, with nothing to indicate or suggest an overlap between this disorder and the paraphilias.

Other than the purposeful act of fire-setting itself (Criterion A), there is no mention of the possibility that the tension or affective arousal experienced before the act (Criterion B); the fascination with, interest in, or attraction to fire and its situational contexts (for example, paraphernalia, uses, consequences) (Criterion C); or the pleasure, gratification, or relief when setting, witnessing, or participating in the aftermath of fires (Criterion D) might be sexual in nature or even contain a sexual arousal component.

Some described cases of pyrophilia do not include behaviors commonly associated with pyromania, such as being a regular “watcher” at fires in his neighbourhood; setting off false alarms; deriving pleasure from institutions, equipment, and personnel associated with fire, spending time at the local fire station, setting fires in order to be affiliated with the fire department; and either showing indifference to the consequences to life and property caused by the fire or deriving satisfaction from the resulting destruction of property. Sexual gratification need not involve actual fire; arousal or masturbatory aids may include fantasies or talk of setting a fire. In other instances, the patient may derive arousal primarily from setting or watching their fire.

Pyrophilia has been diagnosed in very few instances, and is not fully accepted by the general psychological community.

ee also

*Arson

Additional readings

*cite journal|author=Larry C. Litman|title=A case of pyrophilia|journal=CPA Bulletin|year=1999|month=February|pages=18–20
*cite journal|athour=Bourget, D. and Bradford, John McDonald Wilson|title=Fire fetishism, diagnostic and clinical implications: A review of two cases|journal=Canadian Journal of Psychiatry|volume=32|issue=6|year=1987|pages=459–462
*cite journal|author=Balachandra, K. and Swaminath, Sam|title=Fire Fetishism in a Female Arsonist?|journal=Canadian Journal of Psychiatry|volume=47|issue=5|year=2002, in Letters to the Editor


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Paraphilia — Classification and external resources MeSH D010262 Paraphilia (in Greek para παρά = beside and philia φιλία = friendship, having the meaning of love) is a biomedical term used to describe sexual arousal to objects, situations, or indi …   Wikipedia

  • Voyeurism — Voyeur redirects here. For other uses, see Voyeur (disambiguation). Mercury, Aglaulos and Herse In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual… …   Wikipedia

  • Urolagnia — Golden shower redirects here. For other uses, see Golden shower (disambiguation). A woman in stockings raising her skirt and urinating into the mouth of a man …   Wikipedia

  • Sexual fetishism — Classification and external resources Foot fetishism is one of the most common fetishes ICD 10 F …   Wikipedia

  • Robot fetishism — An Actroid manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd. Robot fetishism (also ASFR or technosexuality[1]) is a fetishistic attraction to humanoid robots; also to people acting like robots or people dressed in robot costumes. A less common fantasy involves …   Wikipedia

  • Japanese bondage — This article is about consensual sexual bondage. For other uses, see Slavery in Japan. Kinbaku (緊縛?) means tight binding Kinbaku bi (緊縛美?) which literally means the beauty of tight binding …   Wikipedia

  • Futanari — (二成, 二形; ふたなり, literally dual form ) is the Japanese word for androgyny or hermaphrodite.[1][2] Until 1644, the appeal of sexually ambiguous, futanari characters portrayed by onnagata actors was a popular element in Japanese drama, and there is a …   Wikipedia

  • Frotteurism — Not to be confused with frot or frottage (disambiguation). A sign outside of a bicycle parking lot in Chiba, Japan, warns Beware of Chikan. Frotteurism refers to a paraphilic interest in rubbing, usually one s pelvis or erect penis, against… …   Wikipedia

  • Sadomasochism — This article is about aspects of BDSM. For other uses, see Sadism (disambiguation). Sadomasochism broadly refers to the receiving of pleasure often sexual from acts involving the infliction or reception of pain or humiliation. The name originates …   Wikipedia

  • List of sexology topics — This is a list of topics related to sexology, human sexuality and marriage customs, and related topics such as human sexual anatomy, reproductive biology, andrology, gynaecology, obstetrics and, where relevant, anthropology. Note that this list… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”