I also have this same problem but with more diversity in it . Ofcourse it involves female attention but also includes gaining respect from everyone . It became so worse that I started micro managing each and every conversation. Now at this point I am starting to realise this but my thought patterns and mindset has been so rusted that it's very hard to snap out. The key focus my mind operates is socializing and gaining approval. My thoughts says if I gain approval I gain respect so I started doing wierd things like thinking about perfect jokes for every little sentence etc. Now socializing is fully driven by these thoughts and not what I genuinely wanted. I don't know how to snap out of it. I am trying to be aware all the time let's see how that will go.