Of course receiving attention can also have it downsides, but the reason neglected children act out is generally because that is the only way they get attention. The same is true in adults. The people not receiving that attention are jealous of the ones that do, and the ones that receive it are blushing on the inside. One of these days they won’t get the same attention and they will reminisce about the days that they did.

ANY attention is better than ZERO attention. Its human nature.