Wanting attention every once in a while is typical. Requiring other people's attention and giving attention to them in return are daily parts of human interaction. The process of giving and taking attention has been transpiring in our lives since the time we were born that we are hardly aware of it as an ongoing process. The amount of attention we get and give, however, would be dependent on the situation at hand. As sentient beings, we are aware that our human need for attention plays a crucial role in the positive development of our self-image. Having people's attention is like being recognized for one's value as a person. On one hand, getting too little of it makes us feel unwanted and under-appreciated. But on the other hand, too much of it may be overwhelming and might end up making us feel too conscious and nervous.
In relationships, giving and taking attention are parts and parcels of the whole process. Yet, if your partner craves too much of it to the extent that you already feel manipulated, how would you address it? Could it be that he or she is encumbered with histrionic personality disorder(HPD)? Diagnosing people with HPD would require a psychological evaluation together with a thorough assessment of his or her appearance, behavior, and history. However, there aren't any specific test to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is triggered by depression, which usually results from severed romantic ties. Antidepressant effectiveness could alleviate the depression but not address the symptoms of the personality disorder itself. To identify these symptoms, read on.
A person with HPD would be compelled to seek reassurance or approval from other people from time to time.
He/she tends to go overboard in expressing his/her feelings to the extent that it becomes embarrassing.
He/she is very sensitive when it comes to taking criticisms. Oftentimes, he/she has difficulty accepting or dealing with it.
He/she can act flirtatiously or even provocatively towards the opposite sex.
He/she pays too much attention on his/her appearance, which involves grooming, dressing, etc.
He/she is gullible.
He/she tends to exaggerate the state of their relationships in an effort to sustain his/her belief that everyone loves them.
He/she may exaggerate their role as “victim” in certain situations in order to manipulate others.
He/she has an inclination to conjure romantic fantasies, magnifying the intensity of such relationships.
When it comes to decision making, he/she tends to be rash and impulsive.
He/she seems to be lacking in depth because he/she shifts from one emotional state to the other very quickly.
He/she can threaten to commit suicide just to get attention.
Confronting him/her is futile, for he/she just clams up.

At present, the exact reason why people come down with this personality disorder still remains a mystery. But experts have identified childhood experiences involving demise of an immediate family or a history of mental illness as the contributory factors. In the case of women with HPD, theory has it that it could be due to the provocative and/or authoritative nature of their fathers.