🧠 Trauma-Informed Assessment

Fawn Response Quiz

Discover if people-pleasing patterns are affecting your relationships and wellbeing. Based on Pete Walker's 4F trauma response model.

15 Questions
5 min Average Time
4 Result Levels
Free 100% Private

Take the Fawn Response Quiz

Answer honestly based on how you typically feel and behave. There are no right or wrong answers. Your results will help you understand your people-pleasing patterns and identify areas for growth.

Question 1 of 15 7%

I often say "yes" when I really want to say "no."

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I prioritize others' needs over my own, even when it causes me distress.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I have difficulty identifying or expressing my own feelings and needs.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I feel anxious or fearful when I sense someone might be upset with me.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I tend to apologize frequently, even for things that aren't my fault.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I struggle to set and maintain healthy boundaries.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I tend to mirror or adopt others' opinions to avoid disagreement.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I feel responsible for other people's happiness.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I stay in relationships or situations longer than is healthy because I don't want to hurt the other person.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I feel responsible for managing other people's emotions and moods.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

When conflict arises, my first instinct is to immediately agree or give in to make it stop.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I find it very difficult to express my true feelings if they might upset someone.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I often feel empty or unsure of my own identity.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I automatically put others' needs before my own, even in small daily decisions.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always

I fear that if I express my true self, people will reject or abandon me.

How often does this apply to you?

Never or rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Always
0
Your Result

Your results will appear here.

Recommendations:

    Ready to Start Healing?

    Our trauma-informed therapists specialize in helping people overcome fawn response patterns and develop healthier boundaries.

    Schedule a Free Consultation →

    What is the Fawn Response?

    The fawn response is a trauma survival mechanism identified by therapist Pete Walker in his work on Complex PTSD. While most people are familiar with fight, flight, and freeze responses to threat, fawning is the fourth "F" that often goes unrecognized.

    When someone has a fawn response, they automatically try to appease others and avoid conflict by being helpful, agreeable, and putting others' needs first. This pattern typically develops in childhood as a way to stay safe with unpredictable, demanding, or emotionally unavailable caregivers.

    Understanding your fawn response patterns is the first step toward developing healthier boundaries and reconnecting with your authentic self. If you recognize these patterns in yourself, individual therapy can help you begin the healing process.

    The 4F Trauma Responses

    Pete Walker expanded the traditional fight-flight-freeze model to include fawn, creating a more complete picture of how people respond to perceived threats. Each response served as a survival strategy, but can become problematic when it dominates our behavior.

    ⚔️

    Fight

    Confronting the threat through anger, control, or aggression

    🏃

    Flight

    Escaping the threat through avoidance, workaholism, or busyness

    🧊

    Freeze

    Becoming immobile, dissociating, or shutting down emotionally

    🤝

    Fawn

    Appeasing the threat through people-pleasing and self-abandonment

    Signs You May Have a Fawn Response

    People with fawn response patterns often don't recognize these behaviors as trauma responses. They may have been praised for being "so helpful" or "so easy-going" their whole lives. Here are common signs that fawning might be affecting your life:

    Chronic people-pleasing, even at your own expense

    Difficulty saying "no" or setting boundaries

    Losing your sense of self in relationships

    Feeling responsible for others' emotions

    Apologizing excessively, even when not at fault

    Struggling to identify your own needs and wants

    Avoiding conflict at all costs

    Mirroring others to gain approval

    If you recognize many of these signs, you may also want to explore our attachment style quiz or anxiety assessment for additional insights.

    How the Fawn Response Affects Relationships

    The fawn response can significantly impact your relationships, often in ways you might not immediately recognize. When you consistently prioritize others' needs and suppress your own, it creates an imbalanced dynamic that affects both partners.

    People with fawn patterns often attract partners who are comfortable taking more than they give, or who may even be controlling or narcissistic. The fawner's tendency to accommodate and avoid conflict can enable unhealthy relationship patterns.

    Over time, suppressing your authentic self leads to building resentment, emotional exhaustion, and a loss of emotional intimacy. True connection requires both partners to show up authentically, something that becomes difficult when fawn responses dominate.

    If you're struggling with these patterns in your relationship, couples counseling can help you develop healthier communication patterns and boundaries.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the fawn response?

    The fawn response is a trauma survival mechanism identified by trauma therapist Pete Walker. It involves attempting to avoid conflict and gain safety by pleasing others, often at the expense of one's own needs, boundaries, and sense of self. It's sometimes called the "people-pleasing" trauma response.

    What are the 4 trauma responses?

    The four trauma responses are fight (confronting the threat), flight (escaping the threat), freeze (becoming immobile), and fawn (appeasing the threat through people-pleasing). Pete Walker expanded the traditional fight-flight-freeze model to include fawn as the fourth response.

    Is the fawn response the same as codependency?

    While fawn response and codependency share many characteristics, they're not identical. The fawn response is a trauma survival mechanism, while codependency is a relational pattern. However, chronic fawning often develops into codependent relationship patterns over time. Our codependency quiz can help you explore this further.

    Can you heal from the fawn response?

    Yes, healing from the fawn response is absolutely possible with proper support. Trauma-focused therapies like EMDR, somatic therapy, and attachment-focused work can help individuals develop healthier boundaries, reconnect with their authentic self, and learn new ways of relating to others.

    What causes the fawn response?

    The fawn response typically develops in childhood as an adaptive strategy to survive in environments where a child's needs weren't met, or where pleasing caregivers was necessary for emotional or physical safety. It's often associated with emotional neglect, narcissistic parents, or unpredictable home environments. These early experiences shape our attachment style.

    What therapy is best for the fawn response?

    Several therapeutic approaches can be effective for healing the fawn response, including EMDR therapy to process traumatic memories, somatic therapies to reconnect with bodily sensations, attachment-focused therapy for relational patterns, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to work with protective parts.

    Is this quiz a clinical diagnosis?

    No, this quiz is not a diagnostic tool. It's a self-assessment designed to help you reflect on your patterns and behaviors. If your results suggest significant fawn response patterns, we encourage you to speak with a qualified mental health professional for personalized assessment and support.

    Explore More Self-Assessments

    Attachment Style Quiz

    Discover how your attachment patterns affect relationships.

    Codependency Quiz

    Explore patterns of codependency in your relationships.

    Anxiety Quiz (GAD-7)

    Assess your anxiety levels with this validated tool.

    All Quizzes

    Browse our full library of mental health assessments.

    About This Assessment

    This fawn response quiz is based on the work of trauma therapist Pete Walker, author of "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving." Walker identified the fawn response as the fourth trauma response, expanding the traditional fight-flight-freeze model.

    The questions in this assessment are designed to help you reflect on patterns of people-pleasing, boundary difficulties, and self-abandonment. While not a clinical diagnostic tool, this quiz can provide valuable insight into your coping strategies and guide your healing journey.

    Disclaimer: This assessment is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose any mental health condition. Results should be used as a starting point for self-reflection, not as a clinical assessment. If you have concerns, please contact a licensed therapist.

    Ready to Break Free from People-Pleasing?

    Our trauma-informed therapists specialize in helping individuals heal from fawn response patterns and develop authentic self-expression.

    Schedule a Free Consultation →