Need for Acceptance: Humans have a natural need for social acceptance and belonging. During childhood and adolescence, teachers are often significant authority figures, and their approval can feel like a validation of your worth as a person.
Validation as a Source of Self-Worth: If you receive consistent validation and approval from teachers, it might reinforce a positive self-image and boost your self-esteem. As a result, you might become reliant on their validation to feel good about yourself.
Fear of Rejection: The fear of rejection or disapproval can be powerful and can lead you to go to great lengths to avoid it. Seeking validation may become a way to protect yourself from the potential negative consequences of being disliked or rejected.
Past Traumatic Experiences: Previous experiences of rejection, criticism, or trauma can play a role. If you've had negative experiences with authority figures in the past, you might be more driven to seek positive validation from current teachers to compensate for those earlier experiences.
Insecurity or Low Self-Esteem: If you struggle with feelings of insecurity or low self-esteem, seeking validation from others, especially authority figures, can become a coping mechanism to fill that void and gain a sense of worth.
Performance Anxiety: If you experience anxiety about your academic performance, seeking validation might be a way to reassure yourself that you are doing well and alleviate the anxiety.
Regarding your question about mental illness or trauma, it's essential to recognize that seeking validation is a complex behavior, and it can be influenced by various factors. Mental health conditions or past traumatic experiences can certainly contribute to this behavior. For example, conditions like anxiety, depression, or attachment issues may intensify the need for approval.
If you find that seeking validation is causing significant distress or interfering with your daily life, it might be helpful to discuss these feelings with a mental health professional. They can provide personalized insights and support to help you explore the root causes of this behavior and develop coping strategies to foster a healthier sense of self-worth and validation. Therapy can be an excellent resource for addressing these underlying issues and helping you work towards a more balanced and confident outlook.