People who are desperate for attention often display these 12 annoying behaviors

Some people take attention-seeking to the extreme.

A woman with blonde hair leans against a railing, wearing a black dress and a light jacket. The background shows a cityscape with trees, buildings, and an overpass. The lighting is bright and natural.

Most of us have gotten annoyed when those around us seemed desperate to get attention by any means necessary. If you’ve ever encountered the 12 behaviors listed here, you’ll understand why they’re so tiresome.

1. Asking people for advice about every little thing imaginable.

A woman with long curly hair and wearing a dark blue shirt gestures with her hands while speaking to another woman with straight hair, who is blurred in the foreground. They appear to be having a serious conversation in a bright, indoor setting.

How many people do you know who will either text you or post on social media a dozen times a day, asking for advice on everything from food options to sock choices? They’re perfectly capable of making decisions for themselves, but they need cheerleading reassurance for every choice they make.

2. Complaining endlessly.

Two men are having a conversation in a kitchen. One man, with graying hair and a beard, wears a yellow sweater and holds a cup of coffee while gesturing animatedly. The other man, facing away from the camera, listens attentively. Shelves and a microwave are visible in the background.

No matter what the situation is, they’ll find something to gripe about. It could be a perfect, sunny day outside and they’ll complain about having to water the garden. They may not even believe what they’re moaning about—they just want others to give them energy and offer them sympathy.

3. Posting “rage bait” on social media.

A person wearing a suit has their head replaced with a vintage computer monitor displaying a cartoonish, smiling face. The monitor screen shows the face with raised eyebrows and a mischievous grin. The person raises one hand in a fist.

One of the most effective ways to get attention from others is to post something controversial on social platforms. If someone isn’t getting enough energy from people online, they’ll likely boost engagement by posting a topic they know will either anger or upset others so that those people will argue about it with them.

4. Reinventing themselves on a constant basis.

A woman with long, light brown hair stands outdoors with her arms gracefully extended. She is wearing a loose white dress and appears to be enjoying the natural surroundings, which include dry grass and trees. The sunlight casts a warm glow on her and the scenery.

They constantly announce new things about themselves for people to engage with. For example, they’ll state that they’re vegan this week, but next week they’re paleo, or they’re exploring a new religion, gender identity, and so on. Alternatively, they may regularly switch up their hair color or clothing style for others to notice.

5. Manufacturing crises.

A man with a distressed expression holds his head with both hands. He has short hair, a beard, and is wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt. The background is dark, with dramatic lighting emphasizing his tense facial expression.

These people will regularly have terrible crises that require others’ support and comfort, and they inevitably turn out to be manufactured by themselves. They may stir up drama with their partners and then cry about potential breakups, or injure themselves by doing something stupid that they should have avoided instead.

6. Making up stories to try to seem more interesting.

A woman with long, light brown hair in a beige cable-knit sweater points at her nose, which is exaggeratedly long like Pinocchio's. She is smirking slightly against a gray background.

The most attention-seeking people you’ll ever meet are chronic liars. They might talk about amazing or traumatic experiences they’ve had, celebrities they’ve met, or heroes they’re related to, but conveniently, there’s no evidence to confirm these stories, and nobody else seems to remember them (or is able to validate them) either.

7. One-upmanship.

Two men dressed in business suits and ties are crouched at the starting line on a running track, poised to race. The scene blends professional attire with athletic competition as they prepare for a sprint. The background features empty stadium bleachers.

No matter what it is someone else does, has, or achieves, they have to one-up them somehow. They seek to be better than everyone around them so they gain others’ attention and admiration. And if someone else overshadows them, they’ll go to great lengths to gain center stage once again.

8. Uploading overly emotional videos or photos online.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a denim shirt is making a pouty face. Her arm is extended towards the camera as if taking a selfie. The background is plain, off-white.

These are the people who take the time to set up cameras before having weeping meltdowns so they can record themselves for everyone to see. Their emotions may well be valid in the moment, but they can’t simply experience them: they have to be witnessed by others for validation.

9. Childish or “clownish” behavior.

A person wearing a novelty disguise with thick black eyebrows, glasses, and a fake nose, smiles playfully while posing indoors. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a cozy café or restaurant setting.

They’ll do pratfalls, pranks, and similar clown-like behavior to capture people’s attention and energy. These are the people who will mash food in their partner’s faces or let their children get injured for their own amusement, and then admonish those who get upset at their antics because they “can’t take a joke”.

10. Repeating phrases or actions that got a reaction out of people.

Three women, all wearing sunglasses, sit at a table outdoors, laughing and talking. They have drinks in front of them, including iced coffee and water. The atmosphere is bright and relaxed, with blurred background figures adding to the busy cafe setting.

If they get a laugh from a joke they told, they’ll repeat it again and again in an attempt to get a similar response. You’ll see this kind of behavior in small children who don’t understand the concepts of timing or originality. Since it worked once, they’ll keep doing it forever.

11. Faking major life events.

A female doctor in a white coat, with a stethoscope around her neck, discusses medication with a female patient wearing a gray tank top. They are seated in a medical office with shelves of medical supplies in the background. The patient listens attentively.

They may announce that they’re pregnant or were just diagnosed with a terminal illness, only for these conditions to magically disappear after a while. This is more likely to occur when someone else in their social circle has a real crisis, and therefore ends up taking attention away from themselves.

12. Threats of self-harm.

A person wearing a green hoodie leans their forehead against a glass window, eyes closed and with a pensive expression. The background shows an air conditioning unit and part of a balcony or exterior structure.

If none of their other actions get them the attention that they crave, they’ll threaten to harm themselves. They may post a “final goodbye” on social media and suggest that they’re going to end themselves shortly to see who’ll take the bait and come rushing to their rescue.