How about we stop using the term ‘attention seeker’?

Let’s talk about this societal concept called “seeking attention.”

“Oh, she just does that to seek attention.” “He’s kind of an attention seeker.” “What an attention wh***.” “Were they just seeking attention?”

We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it.

I’ve come to hate this concept over the past few years. “Seeking attention” is always used in a derogatory way, either in gossip or confrontational face-to-face interaction. The phrase has never been used in an uplifting way (that I’ve heard anyway — correct me if I’m wrong).

But here’s the reality: attention seeking is a lot deeper than the term implies.

When people are “seeking attention,” it is because they need attention. A crucial portion of his or her life is lacking. That could mean a parental relationship was damaged, rejection was experienced, a trusted friendship or partnership was severed, etc.

You may have heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the famous pyramid of human fundamentals. All of the needs listed by famous psychologist Abraham Maslow are identifiable vehicles for attention seeking.

If someone is experiencing a need deficiency, they will seek to fill that need by default.

People seek attention to find inborn desires for approval and to fill voids that have not been attended to properly. People seek attention as a subconscious cry for help.

How different would our world look if we started actually attending to the “attention seekers” to finally solve root issues?

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