Meg Josephson, who grew up as a people-pleaser in a volatile home, learned through therapy about her reliance on the fawn response. She notes that many Gen Z clients struggle with people-pleasing, exacerbated by social media which amplifies feelings of rejection and validation-seeking behavior. Josephson, who is now a therapist, emphasizes that being a people-pleaser isn't a fixed trait and that individuals can learn to let go of these tendencies. Her upcoming book, "Are You Mad at Me?", addresses these themes of reassurance and approval in modern communication.
"Being a perfectionist and being kind of always on was very protective for me. It was the one thing in my control to kind of keep my dad's moods at bay."
"Social media and digital communication have played a huge, huge, huge role in the Gen Z fawn response."
"Online life magnifies rejection and makes it so much easier to seek validation, meaning Gen Zers with people-pleasing tendencies can get stuck in a never-ending, approval-hunting loop."
"Even Gen Zers can shed that identity - if they're willing to let it go."
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