ABSTRACT
In this chapter, two terms will be introduced which relate to my own conceptualisation of fire use: (i) non-criminalised fire use – defined as fire-related behaviour, which is considered to adhere to laws, rules and social norms, and (ii) criminalised fire use – defined as fire-related behaviour, which violates laws, rules and social norms. This chapter will consider what, specifically, constitutes non-criminalised and criminalised fire use. I will argue that delineating the two is so difficult and subjective that any attempt to do so is limited. In this chapter, I will present an alternative conceptualisation of arson/fire setting called the Continuum of Fire Use (CoFU). Before discussing fire use specifically, this chapter will explore how human behaviour, more broadly, has been conceptualised and why taking a binary approach might not always be helpful in the social sciences.
