validation seeking
Needing external approval
Validation seeking is the pursuit of approval, recognition, or confirmation from others.
The term often carries a mildly critical edge, suggesting excessive need for external reassurance: Her constant validation seeking on social media was exhausting.
Everyone seeks some validation, but the phrase typically describes behavior perceived as insecure or attention-driven.
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- pat on the backGesture showing approval
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- look at meRequest for attention
- praiseExpression of approval
gold star · reassurance · constant reassurance · insecurity · needy · compliments · likes · followers · social media · recognition · fishing · fishing for compliments · external · worth · self-doubt · self-esteem issues · acceptance · pleasing
- insecuritiesinsecurity, self-doubt, low self-esteem, inadequacy, inferiority
- people-pleasing behaviorsflattery, accommodating, self-sacrifice, conflict avoidance, peacekeeping
- status seekingname dropping, bragging, showing off, flexing, one-upmanship
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
- status anxietystatus anxiety, social comparison, comparison, envy, keeping up with the Joneses
- egoego, egoism, big ego, egotism, egocentrism
validation seekingself-assured
Trusting in oneself
self-confident · self-reliant · inner-directed · self-sufficient · autonomous
validation seekingself-assured
Trusting in oneself
secure · confident · grounded · self-contained · comfortable in one's skin
validation seekingself-directed
Managing oneself without supervision
self-sufficient · nonconformist · authentic · unapologetic · thick-skinned
validation, seeking, valid, validate, validates, validated, validating, validator, validators