Fight, flight, freeze & fawn worksheets

THE FAWN RESPONSE

WHAT IS IT?

Fawning refers to the behaviour of consistently abandoning your own needs in favour of others. This is often done to avoid conflict, criticism, or disapproval. Fawning can sometimes also be referred to as the “please and appease” response and is associated with people-pleasing.

WHY DOES IT OCCUR? Fawning often occurs as a result of having experienced trauma or disconnect with caregivers in childhood or adolescence. Individuals who have grown up in abusive or neglectful households are particularly vulnerable to this response, which at its core, is a protective behaviour when experiencing fear and distress.

WHAT DOES FAWNING LOOK LIKE?

Common expressions of fawning may include:

Being overly compliant. Telling others what they think they want to hear. Trying to please or satisfy others. Putting others needs ahead of their own. Difficulty with asking for help. Assuming responsibility for other peoples emotional responses.

Often submitting to what others want. Struggling to say “no”. Easily giving in to peer pressure. Have limited or porous boundaries. Over-apologising. Changing their preferences to align with others. Holding back opinions or preferences that might seem controversial.