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Excitability, emotional instability, overreactivity, and attention- seeking and often seductive self-dramatization, whether or not the person is aware of its purpose. People with this disorder are immature, self-centered, vain, and unusually dependent. Sometimes referred to as hysterical personality. Symptoms A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following: is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion is suggestible, i.e., easily influenced by others or circumstances considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are Criteria summarized from: American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.     The word histrionic means "dramatic or theatrical". Individuals with this disorder attempt to get attention in strange and unusual ways. The basic characteristic to this disorder is a pattern of attention seeking and excessively emotional. Excessively emotional     People with histrionic personality disorder may have rapid shifts of emotion that may seem artificial. They may overreact emotionally or sexually to situations. They can be very manipulative, using emotional explosions to get their way. Attention seeking behavior     Individuals with this disorder have an intense craving for attention and feel uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention. They often dress flamboyantly or wear outrageous hairstyles. They may dress or act very sexually in an attempt to gain attention. Impressionable     They are very impressionable. People with this disorder are overly trusting and gullible. They often follow the latest trends in fashion, music, etc. They will also form beliefs with little evidence and defend these beliefs passionately. Self-absorbed     People with histrionic personality disorder are usually vain and self-absorbed. They have superficial relationships and their speech and emotional expression lack genuine feeling. Concerned with presentation     Their personalities may change from situation to situation in an attempt to look more attractive to whomever is present. Some people with this disorder function with relatively few problems in society. Other, more severe cases, may have maladaptive behavioral patterns which cause significant difficulties in their lives. This disorder is present in about 2 to 3% of the general population and is more common among women.