The need to please others (people-pleasing) is a mechanism that, while it may provide an immediate sense of security, eventually erodes self-confidence, personal identity, and long-term well-being.

noli's read

The idea that an excessive need to please (often associated with a 'fawning' or submissive behavior tendency) can harm mental health is widely supported in psychology. Observational studies and clinical work (such as those on anxious attachment) confirm that systematically putting others' needs before one's own can lead to emotional exhaustion and a loss of one's own identity. Research suggests that assertiveness is correlated with better self-esteem, validating the idea that chronic 'people-pleasing' can weaken the latter. However, it is important to note that these behaviors are often learned defense mechanisms to avoid conflict or rejection. There is no single 'proof' in the form of a universal meta-analysis because the phenomenon is complex, but the clinical consensus recognizes these deleterious effects. The creator's analysis is consistent with classical cognitive-behavioral approaches, although it simplifies a deep psychological process into 'signs' to facilitate public understanding.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.