Attention seeking

Attention seeking is a characteristic whereby a person behaves in ways designed to obtain the attention, recognition, or response of others. It is a common human behavior, since social connection forms part of life. For this reason, attention seeking in itself is not considered a mental disorder or illness.

Social psychology explains attention seeking as one of the mechanisms through which people pursue social recognition. A person may use speech, appearance, clothing, storytelling, or unusual actions to draw the eyes of others toward themselves. It is important to distinguish between ordinary behavior and excessive patterns that cause harm to the person or those around them.

Causes

Common causes associated with attention seeking include low self-esteem, fear of being overlooked, unstable relationships from childhood, and the need to confirm personal worth. In some cases, the behavior originates in environments where attention seeking is rewarded—for example, in workplaces or social media where drawing attention has benefit.

Characteristics

Typical characteristics include: unnecessary or exaggerated speech intended to impress, extended storytelling to hold attention, complaints or arguments without cause, and self-focused displays designed to elicit praise or approval. Social media has created a new form of measurement, such as likes, comments, and views.

Mental health connection

Excessive attention seeking is sometimes observed as part of personality disorders—for example, histrionic and narcissistic personality types. However, the presence of the behavior alone is not sufficient to diagnose a disorder; comprehensive mental health assessment is required. Additionally, in children, seeking attention is ordinarily part of normal development.