NCJ Number
10514
Journal
Medicine, Science, and the Law Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 79-86
Date Published
1973
Length
8 pages
Annotation
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF FIRE WITH A DISCUSSION OF ITS USE TODAY AS A FORM OF MOB VIOLENCE, PERSONAL OR PERVERTED VENGEANCE, OR PROTEST.
Abstract
INCLUDED ARE RECENT EVENTS INVOLVING FIRE IN ENGLISH PENAL INSTITUTIONS. FROM STATISTICS ON ARSON AND SUICIDE BY FIRE THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE SYMBOLISTIC REGARD AND USE OF FIRE ARE LARGELY RESERVED BY CERTAIN DELINQUENTS AS AN AGGRESSIVE WEAPON TO BE DIRECTED AGAINST OTHERS RATHER THAN AGAINST THEMSELVES. THE CALLOUSNESS OF PREMEDITATED SUICIDE BY FIRE APPEARS TO REMAIN THE PREROGATIVE OF THOSE IDEALISTIC DETACHED PERSONALTIES, OR THOSE WITH MENTAL DISEASE, INVOLVING SOME SEPARATION OF FEELING FROM CONSCIOUSNESS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)