Negative government attention beats being ignored for identity-confused people.

Evidence

To individuals already suffering from identity confusion, the attention paid them by the government not only confirms a negative identity but makes them feel like “somebody.” They are gratified to be sufficiently important to be the object of excessive attention, even if that attention is negative. Harassment or surveillance is preferable to being ignored by society. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4130

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader literature on social identity and recognition — being noticed at all beats being invisible, echoed in work on respect and group conflict. — connects to: Negative attention from authorities can reinforce a negative identity. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 4130
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4130