pyromania etymology

Etymology and Meaning of Pyromania

  • Pyromania is a psychological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to start fires.
  • The word "pyromania" is derived from two Greek words:

    • "pyr" (πῦρ) meaning "fire"
    • "mania" (μανία) meaning "madness, frenzy"

Therefore, "pyromania" literally translates to "fire madness" or "fire frenzy."

Origin of Pyromania

The term "pyromania" was first used in 1835 by French psychiatrist Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol to describe a specific psychiatric condition. He believed that pyromania was a distinct mental illness caused by a pathological obsession with fire and a need for excitement and destruction.

Esquirol's work was influential in the development of the concept of pyromania as a psychological disorder. Today, pyromania is recognized as a rare but serious mental health condition with a complex etiology involving both psychological and neurobiological factors.

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