Sounds something like Munchausen’s Syndrome but not exactly the same.

They’d have to exaggerate their danger in case things fail to turn out as planned. I’m not sure what a psychologist would call it, but I call it crying wolf.

Hypochondriac?

Some people like being a victim and will live their lives as a victim to one thing or person after another.

Some people like drama and will create drama around themselves.

@jca2 I worked with a lady that did that. It was so exhausting.

I’ve seen what would amount to people who just like living on the edge, not so that they can be rescued. Like a person who climbs the face of a cliff with no safety rope.

@snowberry hypochondriacs would never want their condition to continue.

I have a niece who dates horrible men. I am convinced that she does this only for that inevitable moment when he beats her, and she calls her Mom to come help her. The guy is usually already arrested.
Every time!

Interesting!

“Psychologists have dubbed the phenomenon The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Effect”

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200407/crying-wolf-fabricated-crimes

Learned helplessness.

Manipulation.

Is your niece in therapy? It sounds like she needs help to break these cycles.

If there isn’t a word I will make one up. I would call it Disney princess syndrome.

@RedDeerGuy1: AKA DPS!

@filmfann I wouldn’t jump onto that conclusion so quickly. Abused victims are likely to seek out people who share traits of their former abusers, most often unconsciously. The reasons vary, maybe they are so used to the abuse they think it’s a normal thing, maybe they are recreating and reliving their past as a response to unresolved trauma… But attention is never a reason.

Your hypothesis is the absolute worst case scenario and it puts a lot of blame on the victim, assuming she does suffer from something. I would look carefully into the history of your niece before coming to any conclusion.

Ooo… @RedDeerGuy1 Disney Princess Syndrome!! I like it. It is understandable to people of all ages.
My mind immediately jumped to Pauline Syndrome from the Perils of Pauline. But that reference is unrecognizable to anyone under the age of 60.
Princess Peach Syndrome would work for the under 50 crowd. DPS sounds great!