There are many different motives for arson. Revenge is the motivating factor behind almost half of all intentionally set structural fires in the country. The second most common reason is profit. Pyromaniacs exhibit severe deviations from normal behavior. They set fires for no apparent rational reasons.
Most pyromaniacs are men.
Pyromaniacs exhibit a severe inability to relate normally to other people. They are generally loners and often drink alcohol heavily. They often use exaggerated facial expressions to prove their innocence when answering questions. Pyromaniacs usually set fires in a consistent pattern such as time of day, repeating the same method or targeting similar places. Many arsonists share some of the pyromaniac's personality traits.