Brainy Dose Presents:
12 Approval Seeking Behaviors You Need To Stop
It’s completely normal to desire approval from others.
After all, when others support us in this way, we feel validated, confident, and comfortable.
Who doesn’t want to feel that way?
When someone agrees with your opinions, recognizes a job well done, or admires your decisions,
approval is a positive social aspect.
While wanting to feel and receive approval from others isn’t unhealthy, sometimes our
desire pushes us too far.
Instead of doing things because we enjoy them, we feel the need to behave in ways that please
others.
Seeking approval can become a chronic detrimental habit - and you might not even realize you’re
doing it.
When everything you do becomes a ploy to please people, a serious problem arises.
So here are 12 approval seeking behaviors you need to stop doing.
Number 1 - Disagreement Becomes a Personal Offense
If someone approaches you with criticism or disagreement regarding your opinions, decisions,
or behavior, how do you feel?
Does it feel like they’re attacking or insulting you?
If the answer is yes, you’re taking these disagreements to heart when you shouldn’t.
When you seek approval for validation about your self-worth, disapproval becomes a weapon
of destruction.
Without agreement or praise, you might feel bad about yourself or think that your opinions
and feelings aren’t valid.
With this mindset, there is always one right and one wrong way to do anything - and that’s
not a realistic world view.
Number 2 - Quickly Changing Your Mind
When someone shows disapproval, you might get defensive.
What happens when someone shares an opposing opinion before or even after you’ve voiced
yours?
Do you stand your ground with logical reasoning?
If you’re a people pleaser, you might soften your argument (or even change it) so that
your opinions more closely align.
Approval seekers often change their opinion depending on who they’re speaking to.
With a fear of alienating others and a lack of confidence in their convictions, they resist
adopting conflicting views to those around them.
Number 3 - Struggling to Say “No”
Do you tell others “yes” at times when you want to say “no?”
Do you over-commit to things you don’t genuinely want to do?
Always saying “yes” causes physical and emotional exhaustion.
This unhealthy behavior will cause you to resent your commitments and regret not standing
up for what you want (or don’t want).
People who need to please others, often have a hard time setting boundaries and saying
“no.”
It stems from their desire for approval.
Number 4 - Not Sticking Up for Your Beliefs
This behavior seems obvious - if you want approval, you shouldn’t rock the boat.
Standing up for what you believe in is bound to upset someone, especially when you care
passionately about polarizing topics like politics, personal values, or belief systems.
If you’re constantly seeking approval, you’ll shy away from these topics to avoid disagreement
and the inevitable pain of rejection and disapproval.
Number 5 - Gossiping for Attention
Telling stories can make you appear smarter and more engaging.
It may even help you feel accepted in a social group.
But gossiping always backfires in the long run.
Spreading gossip is only a short-term solution to elicit approval.
And although people may enjoy hearing gossip, they tend to dislike those who spread it.
It reveals that you may be untrustworthy or judgemental.
After all, if you talk about others behind their back, what’s to stop you from gossiping
about anyone in your life - including the people you gossip to?
Number 6 - Pretending to Agree
Have you ever found yourself caught in a conversation you don’t want to engage in?
The other person may be enthusiastically droning on about their opinions, and you don’t agree
with what they have to say.
Instead of speaking up, do you pretend to agree with them?
You might express support for another person’s opinion outright, or you could use nonverbal
cues like nodding your head.
Either way, in remaining silent about your honest opinion, you’re doing yourself a
disservice.
Pretending to agree with someone is an unhealthy behavior that usually stems from a desire
for approval.
Number 7 - Not Voicing Dissatisfaction
It’s bound to happen to everyone…
The food at a restaurant is cold when it’s served.
An item you bought online is inadequate when it arrives.
The new clothes you ordered aren’t true to size - etc., etc….
What do you do when you receive services or goods that aren’t up to par?
Do you address it immediately, or do you neglect to tell the server or customer service team?
Maybe even pretend like everything is okay?
Either way, you’re not standing up for the level of quality you deserve (and paid for).
Ultimately, you’re reinforcing the idea that you’re not worthy of the best.
Number 8 - Pretending To Know Something
Assumption is infamous for causing awkward moments, and we’ve all experienced the uncomfortable
energy when someone thinks we know something that we don’t.
Whether it’s intellectual knowledge or a pop culture reference, an approval seeker
will pretend to understand or know whatever it is.
The problem with nodding and smiling along when you don’t know what’s going on is
that you’ll be exposed more often than not.
Instead of gaining approval, you’ll only experience ridicule for faking understanding.
Number 9 - Over Apologizing
Do you say “sorry” all the time?
If apologizing is an instinctual response that comes easily and often, you probably
say “sorry” even when nothing is your fault.
People pleasers are notorious for apologizing for the slightest things, even when no one
has been blamed and everything is fine.
If you didn’t do anything wrong, why the hell are you saying “sorry?”
Number 10 - Fishing for Compliments
Compliments are one of the best sources of validation, and some people-pleasers deliberately
seek out approval in this form.
For instance, they may be making statements about themselves which they know to be untrue
- whether it’s about their achievements, personality, or appearance - fishing for compliments
to tell them the opposite.
They might fish for compliments even in situations where praise isn’t appropriate or well-earned
- resulting in awkward scenarios of eager coercion.
When approval seekers fail to catch a compliment, they may become irritated or upset.
If you struggle to feel worthy in the absence of compliments, you could be exhibiting this
unhealthy behavior.
Number 11 - Resistance to Criticism
When approval is your primary goal, you might feel like you’ve failed when you receive
criticism, even if it’s constructive.
People pleasers despise criticism even more than disagreement because they feel that other’s
opinions of them determine their self-worth.
This approval-seeking behavior is often rooted in childhood trauma.
When a parental figure criticizes or punishes a child for failing to achieve, the child
often begins to seek approval and avoid both criticism and failure.
Number 12 - Not Behaving According to Your Beliefs
People pleasers often put themselves in situations where they follow others instead of their
own hearts - even if it creates conflicts with their core beliefs.
Have you ever spent time with people who did things that didn’t align with your values?
Maybe you even participated in some activities you didn’t want to do, or said things you
didn’t want to say - all for the sake of fitting in.
This approval-seeking behavior may be understandable when you’re a teenager, but if you continue
doing this into adulthood, you’ll lead an unhappy and inauthentic life.
If you exhibit any of these behaviors, remember that they are unhealthy.
They can distract you from your true goals and values.
Seeking approval can become an addiction.
The more you pursue and receive validation from others, the more addicted you become.
Just think of social media…
As time goes on, you’ll realize that these people-pleasing behaviors don’t result in
lasting joy.
They merely waste your time and energy.
The approval of others doesn’t really matter in the long run - what does matter is that
you approve of yourself.
You are worthy, and if you believe that, you will become the most authentic, honest, and
true version of yourself.
Then, the right people will approve of you and support you.
And the wrong people don’t need to be in your life.
Are you an approval seeker?
Does it bother you?
If so, what are you going to do to change it?
Let us know in the comments below.
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