Histrionics as a term is used often by misogynists to describe their presumed female gender’s response to complex situations that often require new levels of nuance, intuition, and clear thought. When a word in the english language gets trapped in games of dirty linguistic tricks sometimes we need to provide that word some intensive care for the good of the English language.  For ‘histrionics’ let us start with a definition:  being excessively emotional, dramatic, and attention-seeking, often characterized by theatricality, seductive actions, shallow speech, and a strong need to be the center of attention.”  

As you can see this is not a gender based word. When you see what it actually means I am sure many faces of all the genders, races and creeds float through your mind. You might even float more than one politician in the inventory of people who may fit the definition of histrionic personality disorder.  Pity the poor word that carries the heavy load of a DSM diagnosis.  

A modest reflection on Good

Histrionic is a good word with a hard message.  This poor word highlights in the dark tones what a good leader, a “great person” or “a great nation” isn’t.  Good leaders, great persons, and nations tend toward being emotionally modest, but empathetic and generous.  They receive enough attention through their actions and character, they don’t need to seek attention and in fact they are often self effacing.  Great leaders tend to be articulate yet are spare in words.  Their charisma and integrity attract so many other great people they have no time for seduction, show boating, or retribution. They are constantly pulled into the center of things rather than needing to push themselves by brute, bully force into the center.   A histrionic personality is certainly not someone you would want to be, for instance,  your President or Congressional Representative.  No, I suspect if this is to be a great nation again we would need to elect great leaders whose first need is public service and certainly not to be considered great.  That would be good.  Thank you histrionic for showing us both where the light is and where it isn’t.  You are a very good word.