PSYCH 138: Pyromania

Clinical Deep Dives · Sep 30, 2026 · 44m · transcript

and subsequent pleasure or relief.

Medlock Holmes enters a vast Neo-Victorian fire investigation chamber where one question dominates the room:

WHY WAS THE FIRE SET?

Pyromania is not simply fire setting, and most people who deliberately start fires do not have pyromania. The diagnosis requires repeated, deliberate and purposeful fire setting accompanied by increasing tension or emotional arousal beforehand and pleasure, gratification or relief during the act or while witnessing its aftermath. Individuals may also show an unusual fascination with fire itself - its equipment, institutions…