Getting Noticed, and the Compulsive Obsession for Attention

Humans seem to require attention.

From the moment a baby is born into this world, its very life depends on being noticed and receiving attention, and it may well be that one of our most fundamental needs for survival is to be noticed.

However, something seems to be seriously wrong in our world today.

More and more we see people engaged in aberrant, disgusting, cruel, and out of control behavior in hopes of gaining some attention.

Teenage girls are posting nude pics to their male classmates on their phones, we see children videotaping fights to show on You tube, we see women barely clothed in hopes of getting the attention of men, we see adults creating crude and ridiculous nonsense to share with the world, hoping for their five minutes of fame.

What is happening? Why is this "need" for attention so out of control?

Some time ago I contemplated a story on the news of a celebrity who had recently died of a drug overdose. Over and over the news showed her scantily clad, posing for the camera, seemingly completely consumed, almost high with the attention she received.

Her voice screaming out to the world was... "look at me", "notice me", "see me".

While she may have found the attention gratifying, I couldn't help but wonder what it was that created such a grossly distorted obsessive need for this type of attention.

The need to be noticed may be a basic need for all of humankind, but for some this "need" is completely out of control and clearly maladaptive, even perverted.

We know that babies require attention to survive, and obviously there is a primitive requirement for mating that is based on being noticed and being attractive to members of the opposite sex, however is this a "need" gone astray?

If we ponder our individual need for attention, do we find a healthy attribute reflecting good character, or can we recognize that the way we fill this "need" may not actually be in our best interest?

As adults do we send the wrong messages to young people, that a few minutes of fame is more valuable than living a decent life? Do we celebrate and/or worship those who demand attention, as vulgar and unseemly as it may be? Do we portray a false reality as we proclaim stardom and celebrity more important than respect and integrity? Do we give the impression that a meaningful life can only be achieved with fame and glory?

While of course there is nothing wrong with fame or attention, there is something definitely wrong with behaving in cruel, degrading, and dispicable ways in order to gain attention or to get noticed.

There is something seriously wrong when children, teenagers, even adults are acting in unhealthy and hurtful ways believing their moment of fame will somehow lead to a meaningful life.