Arsonists in anger

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 2

Arsonists in anger

’A Melbourne Very few young arsonists set fire to property because of an “irresistible impulse.” Most do it out of anger, or for revenge, according to a paper presented yesterday to the congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science.

In almost all cases, the property burned is well known to the arsonist, and close to his home. Usually the schools, churches, cars, and shops incinerated are either those used by the offender, a close friend, or a neighbour.

These are among the findings of a survey by Dr Heather Manning, psychiatrist superintendent of the Melbourne Children’s Court Clinic, in a paper entitled “The Adolescent Arsonist.”

The composite picture of the arsonist which emerged was of an isolated, emotionally detached youth, who showed ambivalence and confusion in coping with life in general, but with specific problems in coping with his own aggressive feelings and sexual conflicts.