For some people, the light of human attention has an unbearable brilliance. Like ivy along the dim edge of a garden, they prefer the social shadows, shunning parties, publicity and fame of any sort. Then there are the flowers of the human arboretum. For them, being in the view of others seems necessary for life itself. From Hollywood to fabricated prime-time reality, this spotlight-dependent species is thriving.

But what about the individuals who crave attention for more desperate reasons Those who resort to unusual ways to get it Lately, it seems, a dark bloom of these characters has emerged. For motives known only to themselves, they have won notoriety by drawing on an almost sacred well of social status, victim hood.

In early April, US national news outlets tracked the disappearance of Audrey Seiler, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Police and hundreds of concerned citizens searched for four days before Seiler was discovered. Seiler said she was kidnapped. Within hours, however, her story fell apart. Police announced that her abduction had been a hoax. Why would a popular student make herself disappear Her motive remains a mystery, but perhaps it had something to do with the search parties and the news bulletins that surrounded her.

Sympathy is a powerful sentiment that can connect complete strangers. But if it’s used to manipulate, the backlash can be much more intense.

In February, a Waterbury, Connecticut, man was arrested as a result of exploiting sympathy. Edward Valentin told reporters that he had received word that his wife, serving in Iraq, had been killed in an explosion. Police said Valentin admitted the fabrication, reasoning that if people felt sorry for him maybe the military would send his wife home. Evidence, however, points elsewhere.

In its extreme form, such a craving shows up in mental disorders, where sufferers may seek attention by causing themselves harm. But even when it comes with no diagnosis, a deep craving to be noticed can have a wide impact.

For these individuals, victim hood represents a "pure state of guilt-free entitlement," said psychologist Richard Levak, of Del Mar, California. "They go from being utterly deprived to being utterly indulged. In today’s world ... people have become more depressed and disconnected from each other. So you get people who crave affection and attention and approval. They don’t know how to ask for it and they don’t know how to get it. That leaves them vulnerable. " Levak said.

Audrey Seiler did something crazy probably because she wanted to ().

A. challenge the police

B. attract the media

C. experience an adventure

D. beat the crowd