[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":150},["ShallowReactive",2],{"route-message-test-en-mlams":3},{"target":4,"messages":5},"en",{"tests":6},{"mlams":7},{"title":8,"description":9,"instruction":10,"questions":11,"options":32,"results":38,"understanding":100,"faq":107,"tips":125,"whoIsThisFor":135,"scoreRanges":143,"disclaimer":149},"People-Pleasing Test: Is It Hard to Say No?","Do you say yes when you want to say no? Take this people-pleasing test to understand how others’ approval may shape your choices.","Please read each statement and choose how much you agree or disagree.",[12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31],"Depending upon the people involved, I react to the same situation in different ways.","I would rather be myself than be well thought of.","Many times I feel like just flipping a coin in order to decide what I should do.","I change my opinion (or the way that I do things) in order to please someone else.","In order to get along and be liked, I tend to be what people expect me to be.","I find it difficult to talk about my ideas if they are contrary to group opinion.","One should avoid doing things in public which appear to be wrong to others, even though one knows that he is right.","Sometimes I feel that I don't have enough control over the direction that my life is taking.","It is better to be humble than assertive when dealing with people.","I am willing to argue only if I know that my friends will back me up.","If I hear that someone expresses a poor opinion of me, I do my best the next time that I see this person to make a good impression.","I seldom feel the need to make excuses or apologize for my behavior.","It is not important to me that I behave properly in social situations.","The best way to handle people is to agree with them and tell them what they want to hear.","It is hard for me to go on with my work if I am not encouraged to do so.","If there is any criticism or anyone says anything about me, I can take it.","It is wise to flatter important people.","I am careful at parties and social gatherings for fear that I will do or say things that others won't like.","I usually do not change my position when people disagree with me.","How many friends you have depends on how nice a person you are.",[33,34,35,36,37],"Strongly disagree","Disagree","No opinion","Agree","Strongly agree",{"minimal":39,"mild":55,"moderate":70,"severe":84},{"headline":40,"description":41,"strengths":42,"quickRelief":46},"Low Approval Motivation Concern","Your responses suggest you are generally comfortable being yourself without excessive concern about others' approval. You likely maintain your own opinions and behaviors even when they differ from what others expect.",[43,44,45],"You tend to act from your own values rather than seeking constant validation","Your sense of self is less dependent on others' opinions of you","You can probably express disagreement or be authentic without excessive anxiety",[47,51],{"title":48,"description":49,"link":50},"Maintain Authentic Boundaries","Continue practicing honest self-expression in relationships","/grounding",{"title":52,"description":53,"link":54},"Use Self-Compassion for Social Moments","Self-kindness helps when occasional social pressure arises","/self-compassion",{"headline":56,"description":57,"strengths":58,"quickRelief":62},"Mild Approval Motivation Concern","Your answers suggest you sometimes consider others' opinions when making decisions, but this doesn't overwhelmingly control your behavior. You can likely be yourself in many situations while still valuing social harmony.",[59,60,61],"You probably balance social awareness with personal authenticity","Your flexibility in different social contexts can be adaptive","You have room to strengthen self-trust while maintaining relationships",[63,67],{"title":64,"description":65,"link":66},"Notice People-Pleasing Urges","Thought labeling helps you catch approval-seeking patterns early","/thought-labeling",{"title":68,"description":69,"link":50},"Practice Grounding Before Social Events","Grounding helps you stay connected to yourself around others",{"headline":71,"description":72,"strengths":73,"quickRelief":77},"Moderate Approval Motivation Concern","Your responses suggest that seeking approval and avoiding disapproval may significantly influence your choices. You might find yourself changing opinions, suppressing your true self, or feeling anxious about how others perceive you.",[74,75,76],"You are recognizing a pattern that can shift with awareness and practice","Your social sensitivity can be redirected toward genuine connection","Learning to tolerate disapproval builds authentic self-confidence",[78,81],{"title":79,"description":80,"link":66},"Label Approval-Seeking Thoughts","Naming thoughts like 'I need them to like me' creates space for choice",{"title":82,"description":83,"link":54},"Practice Self-Compassion for Authenticity","Self-kindness supports you when being true to yourself feels risky",{"headline":85,"description":86,"strengths":87,"quickRelief":92},"High Approval Motivation Concern","Your answers suggest a strong pattern of people-pleasing, where others' approval feels essential for your sense of safety or worth. This can lead to losing touch with your own needs, chronic anxiety in social situations, and difficulty with authentic relationships.",[88,89,90,91],"Taking this assessment shows insight into a challenging pattern","Approval motivation is learned and can be unlearned with practice","Your desire for connection is healthy; it can be expressed more authentically","Many people have reduced people-pleasing through therapy and self-work",[93,96],{"title":94,"description":95,"link":50},"Ground Yourself in Social Situations","Sensory grounding helps you stay connected to yourself around others",{"title":97,"description":98,"link":99},"Use Breathing for Social Anxiety","Calm breathing regulates your nervous system when approval fears arise","/breathing",{"title":101,"paragraphs":102},"Understanding the MLAMS Approval Motivation Test",[103,104,105,106],"The Martin-Larsen Approval Motivation Scale (MLAMS) was developed by H.J. Martin in 1984 as a revised measure of approval motivation, designed to be less confounded with social desirability than earlier scales. It measures the tendency to seek approval from others and to be affected by their evaluations.","The MLAMS includes 20 statements rated from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Some items reflect direct approval-seeking behaviors (changing opinions to please others, being what people expect, flattering important people), while others reflect the underlying attitudes and fears that drive people-pleasing (fear of criticism, need for encouragement, difficulty being authentic).","This test uses a concern-based scoring where higher scores indicate more approval motivation difficulty. Most items are scored directly (higher agreement = higher concern), while items 2, 12, 13, 16, and 19 are reverse-scored because they reflect independence from approval-seeking. This presentation helps identify when the need for approval may be causing distress or limiting authentic living.","Approval motivation exists on a spectrum. Some concern with others' opinions is normal and adaptive—it helps us maintain relationships and social harmony. However, when approval-seeking becomes excessive, it can lead to chronic anxiety, loss of identity, resentment in relationships, and difficulty making decisions without external validation.",{"title":108,"items":109},"Frequently Asked Questions",[110,113,116,119,122],{"question":111,"answer":112},"Is caring about others' opinions always bad?","No. Social awareness and consideration for others are important relationship skills. The concern arises when your need for approval dominates your choices, causes significant anxiety, or leads you to suppress your authentic self. The MLAMS helps identify when approval motivation has become excessive.",{"question":114,"answer":115},"How is this test scored?","Most items are scored directly (0-4), where agreeing with approval-seeking statements increases your concern score. Items 2, 12, 13, 16, and 19 are reverse-scored (4-0) because they reflect independence from approval-seeking. Higher total scores indicate more concern with approval motivation.",{"question":117,"answer":118},"What's the difference between being nice and people-pleasing?","Being nice comes from genuine care for others and choice. People-pleasing comes from fear of disapproval, need for validation, or anxiety about rejection. Nice behavior feels authentic; people-pleasing often feels anxious, resentful, or like you're performing rather than connecting.",{"question":120,"answer":121},"How can I reduce people-pleasing tendencies?","Start by noticing when you automatically agree, apologize, or change yourself for others. Practice small experiments with expressing your true preferences in low-stakes situations. Learn to tolerate the discomfort of potential disapproval—it usually passes. Consider therapy if people-pleasing significantly impacts your life.",{"question":123,"answer":124},"Can approval motivation change over time?","Yes. Approval motivation is shaped by experiences and can be modified through awareness and practice. Many people find their need for external validation decreases as they build self-confidence, develop secure relationships, and learn to validate themselves.",[126,129,132],{"title":127,"description":128},"Pause Before Automatic Agreement","When you feel the urge to immediately agree or say yes, take a breath and ask yourself: 'What do I actually think?' This small pause interrupts automatic people-pleasing and creates space for authenticity.",{"title":130,"description":131},"Practice Tolerating Disapproval","Not everyone will like you, and that's okay. Start with small risks—express a mild disagreement, decline a minor request, or share an unpopular opinion. Notice that the feared consequences usually don't materialize.",{"title":133,"description":134},"Distinguish Kindness from Compliance","Ask yourself: 'Am I doing this because I genuinely want to, or because I'm afraid of what they'll think if I don't?' True kindness feels warm; compliance feels anxious or resentful. Choose actions that align with your values, not just others' expectations.",{"title":136,"description":137,"items":138},"Who Is This Test For?","This approval motivation test is for anyone who suspects that people-pleasing, fear of disapproval, or excessive concern with others' opinions may be affecting their well-being and relationships.",[139,140,141,142],"People who struggle to say no or set boundaries without feeling guilty","Those who find themselves changing opinions or behavior to fit in","Anyone who experiences significant anxiety about others' judgments","People who feel they've lost touch with their authentic self in relationships",{"title":144,"minimal":145,"mild":146,"moderate":147,"severe":148},"What The Scores Mean","Low approval motivation concern. You generally act from your own values without excessive need for external validation.","Mild approval motivation concern. Some social awareness exists without overwhelming people-pleasing patterns.","Moderate approval motivation concern. Seeking approval may significantly influence your choices and cause distress.","High approval motivation concern. Strong people-pleasing patterns that may limit authentic living and relationships.","This self-assessment is for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis and cannot replace a professional evaluation. Excessive approval motivation can overlap with anxiety, social anxiety, and codependency patterns. If your results reflect significant distress or impairment, consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional.",1790423935384]