What is Fawning? Understanding the Emotional Response

Well, have you ever found yourself agreeing with someone excessively or behaving in a way that feels a bit too much like flattery, even if it’s not genuine? That might be a form of fawning, and honestly, it’s something that many people struggle with, often without realizing it. But what exactly does fawning mean, and why do some people do it? Let’s dive into this emotional response and explore how it works.

Fawning Explained: The Psychological Response

So, fawning is a type of emotional response that falls under the category of “fight, flight, or freeze” responses. It’s often described as the people-pleasing behavior that comes up in stressful or difficult situations, where someone tries to win approval by excessively flattering or submitting to someone in authority. It's a coping mechanism, though not one that necessarily leads to healthy or fulfilling relationships.

Fawning vs. Other Emotional Responses

Honestly, when I first heard the term "fawning," I didn’t really get the depth of it. You know, I thought it was just people trying to be nice, but it's much more complex. You can think of it like this: if fight means standing up for yourself, flight means avoiding confrontation, and freeze means shutting down—fawning is another type of response where you try to please and appease others to avoid conflict or rejection. It's like trying to make everything smooth and easy, even at the cost of your own comfort or needs.

Why Do People Fawn? The Causes Behind the Behavior

Okay, so you’re probably wondering, why does this happen? Why do people feel the need to fawn or excessively please others? Well, in many cases, it’s a coping mechanism that develops, often in childhood, as a way to survive emotionally in situations where a person feels powerless or fearful.

Early Life Experiences and Fawning

I’ve talked with a few friends who’ve experienced fawning in different forms, and it often seems to stem from childhood dynamics. For some, growing up in a household where they were constantly trying to gain approval from a parent or authority figure may lead to this type of behavior. I had a friend, Rachel, who told me how she would always try to please her parents to avoid conflict, and she later found herself doing the same in her adult relationships.

Avoiding Conflict and Rejection

For some people, fawning can be a way to avoid conflict or the fear of rejection. It’s a way of keeping things calm and pleasant, but it can also create unhealthy patterns. Imagine being in a situation where you're constantly agreeing with people, saying “yes” to everything, just to keep things quiet—it's exhausting, and over time, it can lead to a lack of personal boundaries.

The Effects of Fawning on Mental Health

Okay, this is where it gets interesting. Fawning might seem harmless at first, but it can actually have a negative impact on mental health over time. As someone who’s witnessed friends fall into this pattern, I can tell you it can lead to feelings of resentment, burnout, and even identity confusion. But let’s break it down further.

The Toll on Self-Esteem

One of the biggest issues with fawning is the effect it has on self-esteem. Constantly putting others' needs above your own can make you feel like you have to earn your worth through pleasing others. This can chip away at your confidence and sense of self, especially if you're not getting your own emotional needs met.

Emotional Exhaustion

You know that feeling when you say "yes" to something even though you really want to say "no"? It’s tiring. This constant need to please others can lead to emotional exhaustion. You might find yourself feeling drained after social events or even in regular conversations, simply because you're not being authentic with your feelings.

Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Fawning Behavior

Okay, so fawning isn’t a great long-term strategy for well-being. But how can you break the cycle? Well, it starts with recognizing when it’s happening and understanding why. I've had my own struggles with people-pleasing, and honestly, it can be tough to stop. But with a little self-awareness and some practice, it’s possible to change these patterns.

Building Healthy Boundaries

A good place to start is by learning to set healthy boundaries. It’s about being honest with yourself and others about what you’re willing to do. If you constantly say "yes" when you really want to say "no," then it’s time to challenge those automatic responses and create some space for your own needs.

Practicing Self-Awareness

Honestly, the most effective way to combat fawning is through self-awareness. Whenever you feel the urge to fawn or excessively please someone, take a moment to ask yourself: "Why am I doing this? Am I doing this because I want to, or because I’m afraid of conflict?" Just that simple question can help you pause and reflect, which is often the first step to change.

Conclusion: Embracing Authenticity Over People-Pleasing

So, what is fawning? It’s an emotional response where someone excessively tries to please others to avoid conflict or rejection, often at the cost of their own well-being. While it’s a natural coping mechanism in certain situations, it’s not a healthy long-term strategy. Overcoming fawning requires a bit of self-awareness and the courage to set boundaries. By embracing authenticity and learning to prioritize your own needs, you can move towards more genuine and fulfilling relationships.

It’s tough to break free from these patterns, but trust me, it’s worth the effort.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.