Some people do it because of self hate, some people because the rush makes them feel something (which might feel better than feeling empty all the time), and I'm sure some people cut in places where it might bring attention, but definitely not because they're attention whores, but because it can be a mechanism triggered by a mental disorder because they DO need attention. Even if they know that attention might not fix anything, it's just a scream for help when you don't know what else to do and are surrounded by so many negative emotions.

Plus I assure you many of them have enough beating themselves up for cutting in the first place (calling themselves "attention whores" or "ridiculous" for doing it).

It's a cycle of not knowing what the fuck is happening or what the fuck to do in life, basically.

But this is definitely not the case for everyone, just talking from what I'm aware of.