There are specific symptoms that separate pyromaniacs from those who start fires for criminal purposes or due to emotional motivations not specifically related to fire. Someone suffering from this disorder deliberately and purposely sets fires on more than one occasion, and before the act of lighting the fire the person usually experiences tension and an emotional buildup. When around fires, a person suffering from pyromania gains intense interest or fascination and may also experience pleasure, gratification or relief {{harv|Frey|2001}}. Another long term contributor often linked with pyromania is the buildup of [[Chronic stress|stress]]. When studying the lifestyle of someone with pyromania, a buildup of stress and emotion is often evident and this is seen in teens' attitudes towards friends and family {{harv|Gale|1998}}. At times it is difficult to distinguish the difference between pyromania and experimentation in childhood because both involve pleasure from the fire.<ref name="FirstFrances2004">{{cite book|author1=Michael B. First |author2=Allen J. Frances |author3=Harold Alan Pincus |title=Dsm-iv Tr Guidebook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hU_L1KUsNfIC&pg=PA337 |accessdate=24 February 2013 |year=2004 |publisher=American Psychiatric Pub |isbn=978-1-58562-068-5 |page=337 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925101242/http://books.google.com/books?id=hU_L1KUsNfIC&pg=PA337 |archivedate=25 September 2014 }}</ref>