What common motive is noted for adolescent firesetters aged 14-16?

Firesetting behavior among adolescents aged 14-16 is often linked to psychological or emotional problems. This age group may struggle with various emotional and social issues, including difficulties with identity, relationships, and external pressures. As a result, some may resort to firesetting as a maladaptive coping mechanism. It can be a way to express feelings of frustration, anger, or a desire for control. Understanding this motive can help fire investigators and mental health professionals address the underlying issues that lead to such behavior and offer appropriate interventions.

Curiosity is also a factor for younger children, but by the ages of 14 to 16, the motivations tend to shift more towards emotional and psychological factors. Accidental fires are generally unintentional, which does not align with the deliberate nature of adolescent firesetting driven by personal issues. Creative expression, while it may play a role in some individuals' behaviors, is less common as a motive in this specific age group compared to the complex emotional and psychological challenges they often face.