fawn response
People-pleasing defense mechanism
The fawn response is a trauma-related coping mechanism in which a person appeases or placates others to avoid conflict or danger.
Unlike fight, flight, or freeze responses, fawning involves excessive agreeableness, people-pleasing, and suppressing one's own needs to stay safe: Her fawn response kicked in whenever her boss raised his voice.
The term comes from psychology and is often discussed in contexts of abuse recovery and codependency.
- freezeBecome solid from cold
- fightPhysical or verbal conflict
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- appeaseSatisfy to restore calm
- submitPresent for consideration
placate · people-pleasing · trauma · survival · doormat · compliance · soothe · flattery · codependency · hypervigilance · boundary · abuse · toxic relationship · manipulation · walking on eggshells · keep the peace · nervous system · nervous system regulation
fawn responsefight response
Instinct to confront danger
flight response · freeze response · fight-or-flight · dissociation
fawn responsedefiance
Open resistance to authority
resistance · confrontation · self-assertion · pushback · standing one's ground
fawn responseself-advocacy
Promoting one's own interests
self-preservation · self-protection · assertiveness · healthy boundaries · autonomy
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