By Tara Rullo, LCSW
The fawn response is a term used in the context of responses to trauma, particularly in the model known as the "four Fs" – fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. These responses describe different ways individuals react when faced with a threat. The fawn response specifically refers to a person's tendency to seek safety and avoid conflict by complying with the wishes and demands of others. It involves an extreme focus on pleasing others and maintaining harmony, even at the expense of one's own needs, boundaries, and well-being.