Attention Seeking & Munchausen by Internet

[Goku]

"Attention seeking (also called drawing attention) is behaving in a way which is in pursuit of attention from others. Where such behaviour is excessive and inappropriate, the term is often used pejoratively in respect of childrens' behaviour in front of peers, or negative domestic interactions. Enjoying the attention of others is socially acceptable in some situations.[1] In some instances, however, the need for attention can lead to difficulties and may highlight underlying ones. As a tactical device, it is used in combat, theatre (upstaging) and it is fundamental to marketing."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_seeking

"Attention-seeking" is usually used in a negative way, but it is a neutral term and it describes an innate inclination of humans. A very extreme form of attention seeking expresses itself as "Munchausen by Internet." I am curious about this behavior because I'm sure I've encountered degrees of it online. I'm sure I've been guilty of boasting a bit for attention. Every single entertainer is an attention seeker, in its extreme form.

"Münchausen by Internet is a pattern of behavior in which Internet users seek attention by feigning illnesses in online venues such as chat rooms, message boards, and Internet Relay Chat (IRC). It has been described in medical literature as a manifestation of factitious disorder or factitious disorder by proxy.[1] Reports of users who deceive Internet forum participants by portraying themselves as gravely ill or as victims of violence first appeared in the 1990s due to the relative newness of Internet communications. The pattern was identified in 1998 by psychiatrist Marc Feldman, who created the term "Münchausen by Internet" in 2000. It is not included in the fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V-TR)."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Münchausen_by_Internet#Causes


Potential Cause
" For prolonged cases, he states the impetus for such behavior is the "longing for nurturing, sympathy, care and concern that they feel unable to get in appropriate ways," and that the admiration of forum members is a strong motivator to continue.[8] As manipulation is integral to most cases, the need to control others to feel as if the perpetrator is in control of his or her own life is apparent, as is the pre-existence of underlying personality disorders. Many people who present factitious disorders crave sympathy and support because it was notably absent in childhood.[9]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Münchausen_by_Internet#Causes


I just wonder if it is really ever fair to judge another's attention seeking behavior, whether it is either "healthy" or "unhealthy." I also wonder if they can distinguish "Munchausen by Internet" from "doing it for the lulz."

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Are you perhaps referring to Munchhausen by proxy?

 

[Goku]

Are you perhaps referring to Munchhausen by proxy?

no, munchausen by internet, proxy involves another person.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Okay, i will need two additional semesters to get my head around this particular concept.

 

[Goku]

Okay, i will need two additional semesters to get my head around this particular concept.

you know, you could learn the concept in 1 day if you met a person who possesses this conceived "disorder," that's why it is always fun to swim around the internet. For example, you can read about narcissism all you want, but knowing and being affected by one in real life gives you such a deeper understanding.

For me, I broke my OP post down like that from general to specific: I understand all this as a base need for attention; for some people, this need is unmet in childhood, so the attention seeking behavior becomes very intense and develops in various types of "Munchausen" behavior. However, other more "healthy" types of attention seeking, on a grand scale, can be seen with performers and entertainers like Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber. Can we really call their behavior "healthy." How do we draw the line, and where is that line that says someone has a mental disorder?

Munchausen by Proxy seems like a real sick disease though... google about Jani Schofield, there's a very popular case in which I believe M. by proxy is going on...

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

I don't see the correlation between pathological attention seeking and commercial exploitation.
Please explain.

 

[Goku]

I don't see the correlation between pathological attention seeking and commercial exploitation.
Please explain.

I didn't mean to make that correlation, I just used two obvious examples, who also make a ton of money doing what they do. I don't really know if much of Miley's or Bieber's intentions were purely "commercial" though. Is it about the money, or is it about being center stage? I'm sure as life progresses it becomes more about the money. But there is a certain type who becomes attracted at a young age to that stuff.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Yeah, sure, these characters bring a certain level of narcissism to the table, but the extend to which it is exploited is entirely outside of their control.

 

[the hungry kid]

Umm.. I haven't given it a lot of thought but I think attention seeking behaviour is necessarily present in all the disorders associated with it. Like ADHD or even munchausen by internet. So as far as drawing the line is concerned I think if someone is not faking illness to draw attention or sympathy he is just seeking attention. Like you mentioned it is necessary in certain professions and as long as nothing is falsely portrayed it is plain attention seeking. Now whether this attention seeking is normal or not is another question and every such situation will have to be studied independently. But we can determine if it is munchausen by internet or not if we have all the required information. But considering the nature of munchausen by internet this information is rarely available and it is nearly impossible to tell if the subject if faking it or not. So it seems difficult to determine but the line is always there.

So basically its unfair to judge another's attention seeking behaviour at least on the internet and label it as some kind of disorder.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk

 

[Pikachu]

Goku, I think you have that syndrome.
No hard feelings.

 

[Goku]

Goku, I think you have that syndrome.
No hard feelings.

I only pretended to have above-average IQ so my fellow people would not feel intimidated. Is that really a crime? In fact, my IQ is so far above genius, that even I cannot understand my thoughts.

 

[Pikachu]

I only pretended to have above-average IQ so my fellow people would not feel intimidated. Is that really a crime? In fact, my IQ is so far above genius, that even I cannot understand my thoughts.

Have you ever took any official IQ test?

 

[Goku]

Have you ever took any official IQ test?

no
everyone just seems stupid to me
that is how I know

 

[Helvete]

How can you be sure of what you assume?

 

[Pikachu]

no
everyone just seems stupid to me
that is how I know

What if you seem stupid to everyone?

 

[Goku]

How can you be sure of what you assume?

once you stop caring about what other people think, it is easier; don't confuse this with ceasing to care about how others feel, though. Two entirely different things, which often get confused because of the frequency that those terms think/feel are used interchangeably. Assumptions end up all being wrong, eventually, so it is better to go through life with less anxiety.

 

[Goku]

What if you seem stupid to everyone?

It is fine, as long as their thoughts do not permeate through my head.

 

[TheScornedReflex]

You're all retarded! Now shut the fuck up and give me the attention I deserve!

*clears throat*

I came in like a pokeballllllllll. All I wanted was to caaaatch them allllll!

 

[Latte]

I have munchausen by internet, please feel sorry for me.

But if that's true, then I don't have it, but if it's not true and I say I do, then I do have it.