
Acting in unhealthy ways toward others
The most common telltale sign of abuse or violence is the experience of this behavior in childhood. Dysfunctional or destructive behaviors are on a spectrum, and we all exhibit some form of harmful manners at some point in our lives.
It doesn’t mean we’re bad people. This is not to excuse the behavior that provoked it but to help us shine a light on its basis and allow space to grow and heal.
People-pleasing tendencies
Children who had to fight for the attention of the people taking care of them unknowingly learned the art of people-pleasing. Rather than enduring the emotional pain of a caregiver ignoring them, they learn that making them happy makes life easier.