The Mind Of The Bigfoot Hoaxer

What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder?

By TCC Team Member Dorraine Fisher

             With all the bigfoot hoaxing going on lately, it’s hard not to wonder what’s lurking inside the minds of these guys. What makes them tick? Is there any real gratification in their regular deceptions, or are they caught in an emotional cycle they can’t escape? Are they dancing on the edge of the criminal element, or are they just hapless victims of their own minds?

            We’ve all known a “drama queen” at some time or another. And as I don’t seek to make excuses for acts that many in this community believe to be criminal, but there’s a clinical term for this behavior.

            Histrionic personality disorder: defined by Psychcentral.com as being “characterized by a long-standing pattern of attention seeking behavior and extreme emotionality,” better known as “drama queens” or kings, since the disorder affects just as many men as women.

            Those with HPD feel a burning need to be the center of attention, and they often become very uncomfortable when they are not everyone’s central focus. This sometimes drives them to regular extreme behavior to ensure the attention they crave is never lost.

            In interpersonal relationships, they often assume the role of either victim or angel, depending on what they believe will keep the focus on them. The are often perceived as shallow and superficial and they seek to control others by manipulating them emotionally. They often pull others into their largely fictional world and keep the drama going in order to keep those people engaged with them.

            People with histrionic personality disorder need constant excitement and stimulation and become easily bored with a normal life routine. They have no tolerance or patience with the idea of “delayed gratification” and their actions are directed at obtaining satisfaction instantly.

            When we’re talking about Bigfoot hoaxers, does any of this sound familiar? *******DF