approval-seeking
Needing others' validation
Approval-seeking describes behavior motivated by desire for others' validation or acceptance.
It typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting someone prioritizes external approval over authentic self-expression: His approval-seeking made him agree with whatever the boss said.
The term often appears in psychological contexts discussing insecurity or people-pleasing tendencies.
Confirming truth or accuracy
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- needinessExcessive emotional reliance
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
- self-esteemOne's sense of worth
attachment · reassurance · anxiety · dependency · worthiness · self-doubt · people-pleasing · self-worth
Excessive accommodation of others
- conformityAdherence to norms
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- overachievingPerforming beyond expectations
fawning · sycophancy · ingratiating · accommodating · obsequiousness · yes-man · doormat · agreeable
Rank increase or publicity
- overworkingLaboring beyond healthy limits
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- brown-nosingObsequious flattery for favor
- advancementForward movement or promotion
micromanagement · evaluation · praise · merit · achievement · networking · mentorship · visibility
Mass public favor
- statusOne's relative position
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- belongingState of fitting in
- acceptanceConsent to receive
clique · conforming · likability · in-group · following · trendsetting · influencer · crowd-pleasing
validation
Confirming truth or accuracy
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- needinessExcessive emotional reliance
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
self-esteem · attachment · reassurance · anxiety · dependency · worthiness · self-doubt · people-pleasing · self-worth · perfectionism
people-pleasing
Excessive accommodation of others
- conformityAdherence to norms
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
overachieving · fawning · sycophancy · ingratiating · accommodating · obsequiousness · yes-man · doormat · agreeable · submissive
promotion
Rank increase or publicity
- overworkingLaboring beyond healthy limits
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- brown-nosingObsequious flattery for favor
advancement · micromanagement · evaluation · praise · merit · achievement · networking · mentorship · visibility · sycophant
popularity
Mass public favor
- statusOne's relative position
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- belongingState of fitting in
acceptance · clique · conforming · likability · in-group · following · trendsetting · influencer · crowd-pleasing · face-saving
- Codependencycodependency, enabling, enmeshment, people-pleasing, caretaking
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
- ego displaysarrogance, vanity, boasting, showboating, braggadocio
- self-doubtinsecurity, inadequacy, low self-esteem, self-criticism, self-doubt
approval-seekingself-assured
Trusting in oneself
self-confident · self-reliant · secure · inner-directed · grounded
approval-seekingindependent
Free from external control
nonconformist · self-determining · free-spirited · unfettered · individualistic
approval-seekingdefiant
Openly resisting control
unapologetic · rebellious · thick-skinned · unbothered · devil-may-care
approval, seeking, approve, approved, approving, approvingly, disapprove, disapproval, disapproved