Herostratic Fame
There’s some evidence that a heightened desire for fame is tied to deep-seated feelings of neglect or rejection, possibly from a young age; though this craving may also be imbued by the variables that shape our day-to-day lives.
So if we feel unrecognized, under-appreciated, and as if we have a lot to give but that other people are always seemingly more beloved and marveled over and cherished and rewarded for their (comparably less-good) contributions, this may be a remnant of how we grew up, and it might be the consequence of the lives we live, as adults.
Whatever the source, this intuition can lead to a craving for attention, which can, in turn, lead to a desire for fame because, from the outside at least, it seems like famous people receive all the attention and adoration a person might want.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Brain Lenses to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.