I consider people-pleasing to be overextending yourself to make others happy even when it's detrimental to your own well-being, whether it be mentally, emotionally, etc. In my experience, this maladaptive behavior is formed when one has an unhealthy attachment style in which they believe the only way to keep people in their lives is by pleasing them in any and every capacity. One effective strategy I would recommend to someone trying to overcome this behavior is to create affirmations reminding them of their worth whether or not people are pleased or happy with them. Over time, this practice changes their thought pattern from putting others before themselves to putting themselves first in a healthy way.
People-pleasing is a maladaptive behaviour where we prioritise others' needs and opinions over our own to seek approval and avoid conflict. This often stems from the early maladaptive schema of Self-Sacrifice and Abandonment, where the individual fears being abandoned or rejected if they don't meet others' expectations. A schema is a set of rules (cognitive framework) that helps us to organise and interpret information. The Self-Sacrifice and Abandonment schema develops in the early years if a child's parents are inconsistent, unpredictable, or emotionally unavailable, leading the child to prioritise others' needs over their own to maintain attachment. A strategy to reduce people-pleasing is setting boundaries: communicating up-front to others what we are okay with. Initially saying “no”, and prioritising our own well-being might feel wrong. However, with time and the help of a therapist, this approach leads to reduced people-pleasing behaviours and healthier relationships.