Some personality problems, like abandonment issues or low IQ, I think of as due to genetics or adverse childhood events not the fault of the person…other traits like being a person who litters or being greedy I think of as personal failings - my questions is where would you put attention seeking behaviors like being super entitled about your wedding or lying about traumatic events?
Are these caused by social problems, and if so what might they be? Or are they just people wanting attention because it feels good and they feel entitled to do whatever they have to to get it? I have cognitive dissonance on this and am curious to hear other people’s take and why.
Attention seeking, in general, is neither a personal failure nor a societal ill. It’s a normal part of the human experience. Read a few “gentle parenting” books and they’ll tell you not even to use the phrase, instead suggesting “connection-seeking behavior” as a better term.
When my son asks me how much is twenty plus twenty plus two million, he already knows the answer. He just wants to start a conversation. Same when I want to brag to my wife about a good day at work, or she wants to vent about her sister being pissy with her over text.
Agreed. I find it very disturbing when people label suicide attempts as just a cry for attention. People who are harming themselves for attention very clearly need attention.