The desire for prominence: a harmful quality

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Although it is important that we are the protagonists of our lives, how far would you be willing to go to attract the attention of others?

We all have a friend or co-worker who loves to be the center of attention. They are people who are usually distinguished by being extroverted or the life of the party. However, This behavior is not always a positive characteristic.

Thus, it is essential to learn to find balance, since although it is positive to become the protagonists of our own story and take control of it, this can also become a negative trait if we seek this protagonism by imposing ourselves on others, passing above the will of others and minimizing their desires, needs and emotions.

Desire for prominence in childhood

To begin with, this trait can appear since we are children, perhaps in an innocent competitive desire or trying to make up for a lack of attention. In these cases, it is recommended that parents and caregivers teach children to be patient, to wait their turn to speak or play, and to share time, toys, and adult attention with other children.

Likewise, it is important to teach them that being competitive is not always good and that we must learn to recognize their talents or achievements in others, and not just want to compare them with our own. Thus, Teaching children not to be envious of others can become a strategy so that they do not reach adolescence and adulthood always demanding to be the center of attention.

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Of course, it is essential to provide children with affection, attention and care. Dedicating quality time to them that tells them that they are important will help them grow safe and with strong self-confidence.

Between the desire for prominence and histrionic personality disorder

Although people who seek excessive attention do not always meet the diagnostic criteria associated with histrionic personality disorder, it is true that this search for prominence is a trait that characterizes people with this condition.

Histrionic personality disorder usually begins to manifest itself in the first years of life. Generally, The ways of attracting attention in this clinical picture focus on aspects such as gestures, clothing, exaggeration and drama. Likewise, they are prone to sudden changes in mood and, of course, to the overflowing expression of these changing emotions.

Added to the above, They have a very great need to be approved, accepted and recognized. They are people who have recognized social skills to attract the interest of others, which is why they are perceived as attractive and fun people. On first impression, they seem very motivated and enthusiastic.

Nevertheless, They also tend to express discomfort and not feel comfortable when they are not the center of attention. Almost constantly, they seek to monopolize conversations and make them revolve around them or around topics of their own interest. Although on the surface they may seem like egomaniacs and vain people, they actually tend to have a very fragile self-esteem.

Sadfishing and other forms of attention seeking

Recently, the term has become popular on social networks sadfishingwhich refers to a practice in which sad experiences or emotional problems are shared with the sole purpose of attracting attention. Although it is usually used mainly when talking about celebrities, it seems to have spread to the general population, particularly among the adolescent public.

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Is about a way to gain prominence by appealing to the compassion and empathy of social media users. However, it is very difficult to determine if attention is being drawn from victimhood or if it is a genuine way to raise a debate about mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression or suicide.

The need for affection in the desire for protagonism

In any case, The desire for protagonism seems to be linked to strong emotional deficiencies. The constant desire to attract attention may be based on a need to receive affection, attention and recognition that may not have been adequately satisfied during childhood.

Therefore, if you or someone close to you engages in these types of behaviors, it may be helpful to seek professional help.

And finally, Don’t forget that healthy emotional ties are usually horizontal and reciprocal, That is, there is a balance between the attention given and that received.