The Feeling of Importance.

I was recently asked the question of why do people crave attention.

I postulate that wanting attention is a natural and instinctive reaction as a human being. It is a social behaviour that generates energy so that a group thrives.

The next question is, why do most people want it so bad, and why do some want it not at all.

I suggested that those who don't have it, want it. Those who have it, want more of it. And there is another category of those who have too much of it (too much by definition of the individual recipient), want none of it.

So the final question was, what does attention give that creates this want for it?

One of the reasons that was suggested was the need for one to feel important. That as an individual they matter in the scheme of things. Because most individuals have not learnt the capacity to derive appreciation from self, this leads to reliance from an external source to provide self worth. Getting attention leads one to believe that he/she has value, hence in their own minds, equates to feeling important.

This of course is a parasitical behaviour, one prevalent in the society we live in today. Not only do people no longer see that this behaviour is destructive and not sustainable, it is expected, nay demanded of random strangers to acknowledge their existence, because that individual feels that they 'deserve' it.

Deserve, fair and right, are owed to no one. If you want something, you have to fight for it.