Which form of firesetting involves personal retaliation?

The form of firesetting that involves personal retaliation is revenge. This type of firesetting is driven by an individual’s desire to retaliate against someone or something they perceive as having wronged them. The motivation stems from feelings of anger, betrayal, or a need for retribution, leading the individual to use fire as a means of expressing those feelings.

Revenge firesetting often targets specific individuals, organizations, or properties that the person holds responsible for their grievances. This can include personal disputes, relationship conflicts, or even disputes with businesses or institutions. Understanding this motivation is crucial for fire investigators, as it helps them identify patterns and potential suspects in cases of arson motivated by personal vendettas.

Other types of firesetting, such as vandalism or excitement, do not carry the same personal and emotional motives associated with revenge. Vandalism typically involves damage for the sake of destruction rather than personal grudges, and excitement relates more to the thrill or adrenaline associated with fire. Crime concealment focuses on using fire to destroy evidence of a crime, which is a different objective altogether. Recognizing the distinction between these motivations aids in effectively investigating incidents of arson.