₦airaland Forum

Attention seeking behavior is one of the most
frustrating things for other people to deal with,
and it often accomplishes the opposite of what
you want. Attention seekers may be rude, they
may interrupt others or top others' stories all
the time. They may also engage in risky
behavior to get you to rescue or punish them. If
attention seekers are driving you crazy, there
are some ways to help work with an attention
seeker to make them feel more heard, and to
give some boundaries to keep them from acting
out as much. Here are some tips:


(1) UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED:-
Attention seekers often act the way they do
because they feel insecure and unheard. If they
can't get positive attention to feel heard, then
they will be bad until they get some attention
that way instead. People in general need to feel
loved and attended to. If they don't get this
naturally, they will find other ways to gain
attention. If the person who is seeking attention
is your child or grandchild, then one great way
to deal with this is to give them a lot of attention
when they do what you want. Catch them being
good and appreciate them for it enthusiastically
and regularly.


(2) CALL THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS KINDLY:-
Your attention seeker may not be aware what
they are doing, so another strategy may be to let
someone know how their behavior is affecting
others. Kindness is key with this, along with a
gentle push toward self awareness . This is a
good tactic to use with coworkers, bosses, or
other people who are not your children, and
with whom you want to gently deal and show
respect. An example, if someone is hogging the
conversation, would be to say something like,
"Wow, John, that sounds like a fascinating story.
I would really like to take the time to listen as
soon as Susan finishes her story."


(3) SET BOUNDARIES:-
If kindness doesn't work with your attention
seeker, then you need to put up a wall that is
based on appropriate behavior . Though they
don't act like it, attention seekers do
understand, for the most part, what does and
does not constitute acceptable behavior. To
make it crystal clear to them, let them know,
gently, that they have crossed a line, and spell
out what will happen if they cross that line
again. You can decide not to spend time with
them anymore until they change. If they are
adult children, you can make acceptable
behavior contingent on being able to live with
you, if they do. The boundaries are for your
health as well as for the other person, so make it
appropriate to your situation, so that you don't
have to deal with attention seeking anymore if
you must follow through.


http://psychologydictionary.org/article/how-to-stop-attention-seeking-behavior/

what are examples of such behaviour?

I saw something on wikipedia about planned ignoring, however, it seems it works better with positive reinforcement.

itstpia8:
what are examples of such behaviour?

(1) Being the "class clown"

(2) When your girlfriend cries over everything because she knows you will stop what you are doing and comfort her.

(3) The person who always needs help even though you know dey can do it.

(4) The girlfriend/boyfriend who won't leave your side.. "clingy'"

These are just some of d ways a someone can seek attention, d main way to know if it is attention seeking behavior is based on how you react to d behavior. If you are slightly annoyed or mildly frustrated then it is most likely attention seeking behavior.

donogaga:
d main way to know if it is attention seeking behavior is
based on how you react to d behavior. If you are slightly
annoyed or mildly frustrated then it is most likely attention
seeking behavior.

is the diagnosis based on reaction or the pattern of behaviour?

itstpia8:
is the diagnosis based on reaction or the pattern of behaviour?

Young man, Are you a psychologist?

just seeking clarification.