But in this case it’s because the individual is suffering from a mental illness as well as a pathological need to seek attention.
It is all about the AtTeNtIoN! with this guy and his mother. He’s in the news constantly. I recognized him from last year -
March 2013 - http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/21762215/exclusive-mother-of-transgender-shares-teens-story
Oct 2014 - http://www.reveal.co.uk/real-life-stories/news/a599397/the-woman-i-was-always-meant-to-be.html