validation-seeking
Needing others' approval
Validation-seeking describes behavior motivated by a desire for approval, praise, or confirmation from others.
Someone who is validation-seeking posts on social media hoping for likes, asks questions they already know the answer to, or repeatedly checks whether their work is good enough.
The term often carries a mildly critical edge, suggesting insecurity or excessive dependence on external approval: His constant validation-seeking exhausted everyone around him.
Favorable opinion given
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
people-pleasing · codependency · attachment · self-worth · neediness · inadequacy · vulnerability · perfectionism
Feels favorably toward
- followersPeople who support someone
- commentsSpoken or written reactions
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- influencerPerson with promotional reach
viral · clout · popularity · status · recognition · attention · flexing · humble-brag
Expression of approval
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- feedbackReturned response data
- overachievingPerforming beyond expectations
workaholism · micromanagement · awards · accolades · benchmarking · networking
Excessive verbal or written output
- clingyTending to hold on
- accommodatingWilling to help others
- overexplainingProviding unnecessary detail
- apologizingAcknowledging a wrongdoing
deferring · second-guessing · mind-reading · testing · jealousy · possessiveness · enmeshment
approval
Favorable opinion given
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
self-doubt · people-pleasing · codependency · attachment · self-worth · neediness · inadequacy · vulnerability · perfectionism · overthinking
likes
Feels favorably toward
- followersPeople who support someone
- commentsSpoken or written reactions
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
influencer · viral · clout · popularity · status · recognition · attention · flexing · humble-brag · selfies
praise
Expression of approval
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- feedbackReturned response data
overachieving · workaholism · micromanagement · awards · accolades · benchmarking · networking
overcommunicating
Excessive verbal or written output
- clingyTending to hold on
- accommodatingWilling to help others
- overexplainingProviding unnecessary detail
apologizing · deferring · second-guessing · mind-reading · testing · jealousy · possessiveness · enmeshment
- Codependencycodependency, enabling, enmeshment, people-pleasing, caretaking
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
- ego behaviorsbragging, boasting, showing off, arrogance, vanity
validation-seekingself-assured
Trusting in oneself
self-confident · self-reliant · inner-directed · autonomous · self-sufficient
validation-seekingnonconformist
Rejects prevailing social standards
self-directed · thick-skinned · unbothered · individualistic · contrarian
validation, seeking, validate, valid, validity, validly, invalid, invalidate, invalidation