New Delhi: The psychological concept of fawning - a trauma-induced behaviour marked by excessive people-pleasing and conflict avoidance - is gaining traction among Gen Z.
It is raising concerns among mental health professionals.
Experts say this coping mechanism, often misunderstood as mere agreeableness, is actually a survival strategy developed in response to chronic emotional stress and unstable environments, especially in childhood.
Coined by psychotherapist Pete Walker, the term “fawning” is now being increasingly discussed in online spaces where younger generations are exploring their mental health and interpersonal behaviours more openly than ever before.
According to Dr Shorouq Motwani, Psychiatrist at Lilavati Hospital, "The fawning trauma response is a learned survival response coming from chronic relationship trauma where one lived a role of suppressing needs, over accommodating others, and appeasing potential threats as a means of survival."
Fawning is often grouped with the well-known trauma responses - fight, flight, and freeze - but is less widely recognised. Those who experience it tend to prioritise others’ needs over their own, often to avoid confrontation or disapproval.
Experts note that it usually takes root in childhood, especially in emotionally volatile homes. The behaviour becomes a reflex, driven by the constant need to monitor others' moods and adjust accordingly. Over time, this hypervigilance can impair emotional development and identity formation.
Dr Motwani further explained, "Over time, this dysregulated response impairs autonomy, boundary setting, and emotional clarity, persisting long past the terminated trauma."
Mental health professionals say several factors are driving the rise of fawning behaviours in Generation Z. These include increased awareness of mental health issues, widespread exposure to relational trauma, and the validation-driven culture of social media.
“In competitive and emotionally invalidating environments, appeasement often acts as a conditioned coping mechanism,” Dr Motwani said. "It is often incorrectly misread or judged as agreeableness and a cover for managing difficult situations while maintaining autonomy, and emotional self-regulation."
While it may help maintain peace in the short term, experts warn that fawning can hinder personal growth, erode boundaries, and lead to emotionally dependent relationships.
"While adaptive short-term and helpful for survival, fawning trauma response disrupts developing identity, limits boundary building, and increases vulnerability to creating co-dependent dynamics, emotional dysregulation, and trauma or harm in relationships," Dr Motwani noted.
Therapy, mindfulness, and conscious boundary-setting are key tools to begin unlearning these behaviours. Experts also recommend developing self-awareness and compassion to foster more genuine and autonomous relationships.