有鑑於縱火慣犯危害嚴重，本研究特別針對縱火慣犯進行探索，企圖瞭解其心理特徵及行為歷程，俾有助於政府主管機關及社會建立有效地防治對策。本研究針對臺北及新竹監獄內所有縱火罪受刑人進行訪談，發現其中有三位為犯案累累的縱火慣犯，故就此三位縱火慣犯進行分析。結果顯示，縱火行為的肇發常是特定的心理特徵與促發情境交互作用的結果，而持續縱火行為則是因為個案能從縱火過程中獲得滿足。本研究以「肇發-持續因素」的觀點，闡明縱火慣犯的心理特徵及行為歷程，並以此一觀點說明縱火慣犯的處遇策略。

The present study explores the psychological characteristics and behavioral processes of male habitual arsonists in light of their considerable dangerousness to the society. All the arson inmates of Taipei and Hsin-Jwu prison of Taiwan were in-depth interviewed, among them three male subjects were found as repeated arson offenders, each committing firesetting at least five times. The analyses of the data were thus based on the three repeated offenders. The results show that the occurrence of their arson behavior is usually the result of the interaction of specific psychological characteristics and some instigating situations. The maintenance of their arson behavior is usually the result that they gain satisfaction from arson. The present article adopts a “occurringmaintaining-factor perspective” to illustrate male habitual arsonist’s psychological characteristics and behavioral processes. The corresponding treatment strategy is suggested.