Pretty much.
It is the same reason some kids will misbehave where their parents will see them to get a reaction, even though the reaction will be negative, out of them. Children can not stand to be ignored. As we get older we should out grow this childish behavior but some people grow up later then others and some do not grow up at all.
Someone once wisely told me that the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. He would rather have her hate him then be ignored. Her hatred would at least validate that he exists in her world. Eventually if not curtailed he will end up hating her and that is where things get nasty.