Sometimes, trauma andabusesurvivors will fawn in response to their abuse in an effort to keep the abuser happy.
Fawning can also appear as compliance to prevent harm.
What Does Fawning Look Like?
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
Fawning is sometimes referred to as people-pleasing.
When someone is fawning, they may appear overly cooperative or helpful, sometimes to their own detriment.
Most people engage in people-pleasing behavior from time to time.
When someone has a fawning response, they might struggle to even recognize their own feelings and needs.
They often look to those around them rather than trusting their own emotional response.
They likely struggle with healthy boundaries as well.
Examples of Fawning
Like other fear andtrauma responses, fawning can look many different ways.
Additionally, some behaviors may be a fawning response in some contexts but may also be healthy in others.
Some examples of fawning include:
What Kind of Trauma Causes Fawning?
There is no one correct way to respond to fear, abuse, and trauma.
Two people may respond to similar stressors in very different ways.
People who perpetrate abuse are not typically abusive in every situation and interaction.
Fawning is not exclusive to relationships, though.
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It’s likely they can help you identify additional ways to stay safe.
you oughta know that you are not alone and there are people always available to assist you.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
What Does It Mean If Someone Is Fawning?
In the past, fawning behavior may have effectively kept them safer at the moment abuse was taking place.
Perceived danger does not necessarily equal actual danger.
How Can I Stop Fawning?
A therapist can help with this.
Take time to consider your preferences and values, and get to know your authentic self.
How Can I Support Someone Who Is Fawning?
It can be difficult to address fawning responses because many nervous systems find them helpful.
Teachers might not even realize they are reinforcing a fear response.
You might feel defensive if you realize that a loved one is engaging in a fear response.
You might think you are a safe person, and therefore they should not feel the need to fawn.
Work with your loved one to reassure them it is ok for them to express their needs.
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