The Behavior Science of people pleasing
From EveryDay ABA Podcast · 00:52:18
Show by EveryDay ABA
People pleasing can look like kindness to others, but what if it’s actually a way to avoid your own personal discomfort? In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Brittanny, Paola, and Leslie get real about people pleasing, overthinking others’ reactions, and why saying no can feel so much harder than saying yes. They dive into the psychology of people pleasing, rejection sensitivity, anxiety, and the hidden cost of putting everyone else’s feelings first.Using behavioral science and applied behavior analysis (ABA), the hosts explore how people pleasing develops, why behaviors like self-silencing, overhelping, and avoiding conflict can become reinforced habits over time. They also unpack the connection between approval-seeking, mental health, and relationships, including how the desire to keep everyone happy can affect friendships, workplace communication, leadership, and giving honest feedback.Whether you struggle to set boundaries, worry about disappointing people, avoid difficult conversations, or find yourself agreeing when you really want to say no, this episode will help you understand the behavior behind the pattern. You’ll discover why being nice can sometimes be a way to manage your own discomfort, how behavioral reinforcement keeps people pleasing going, and why protecting someone else’s feelings can come at the expense of your own needs. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week to explore how to stop people pleasing behavior. 🛒 Shop our Amazon Storefront * Amazon affiliate links help support the podcast at no additional cost to you. ▶️Find us on YouTube ☕ SUPPORT THE PODCAST 👚 Buy Merch for Clinicians on Etsy Store! 📲 Follow on Instagram @EveryDayABA.3 💲 Like discounts? Join our group! 📧 To advertise on this podcast e-mail: [email protected] Keywords: BCBA, RBT, People pleasing, psychology, setting boundaries, conflict avoidance, rejection sensitivity, approval seeking, behavioral science, applied behavior analysis (ABA), mental health, relationships EveryDay ABA provides Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) consulting to improve organizational performance across healthcare, education, and behavioral health systems. We partner with leadership teams to optimize workforce systems, standardize performance, and build high-performing cultures through staff training, leadership development, mentorship, and coaching. Our work reduces burnout and turnover, increases employee engagement and accountability, strengthens leadership effectiveness, improves operational efficiency, and drives measurable revenue growth through data-driven systems that align behavior with business outcomes.To explore consulting or leadership training for your organization, contact us at EveryDay ABA
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