5 Things You Need to Know About Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a super trendy topic on social media now. And like anything online, it’s hard to know what information about it is legit and what information about it has been totally made up and shared enough times that it seems legit.
Unlike lots of social media concepts, imposter syndrome is an actual psychological concept. It’s been researched and we know a lot about it.
So I’m here to tell you 5 things science says about imposter syndrome so you’ll know the real deal. You smarty pants, you.
1. What Is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome (also called imposter phenomenon in the research literature) was first written about in 1978, by Clance and Imes. In that original paper, the researchers define imposter syndrome as the following:
Despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persists [sic] in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise.
Thus, imposter syndrome refers to a pattern of thoughts and behavior whereby a person has a persistent fear of being exposed as an incompetent fraud, despite having objective evidence of competence.
Folks with imposter syndrome are convinced they’re incompetent and feel like a total con artist who has deceived the people around them into thinking they know what they’re doing.
Even though they have the qualifications and achievements they need to be successful at work or school, they’re scared other people are going to eventually find out they shouldn’t be there.
2. Thought Processes of People with Imposter Syndrome
Like everyone, folks who struggle with imposter syndrome receive praise.
But they don’t feel worthy of praise, so they discount it.
They say they just got lucky instead of really acknowledging they deserved and earned the praise.
Or they claim they’ve just tricked people into thinking they’re talented instead of acknowledging that they’re actually talented.
In their hearts, they believe people are just overestimating their abilities.
3. Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
People with imposter syndrome tend to be overcome by self-doubt.
They have trouble really, truly accepting their competence and success, which makes them feel bad about themselves.
They’re so focused on their inadequacies, flaws, and mistakes that they lean toward perfectionism to correct it.
A lot of the phenomenon seems to be driven by comparison. People with imposter syndrome compare themselves to people they deem to be legitimate, authentic talents. They judge themselves as frauds in comparison and make the mistake of assuming other people are making the same downward comparison.
4. Behaviors of People with Imposter Syndrome
People with imposter syndrome engage in several behaviors to conceal their identity as a fraud.
They work really hard to keep people away from them so they won’t discover they’re an imposter.
They hide their true opinions and ideas and only share the ideas they know will be met with approval.
They engage in people-pleasing behavior and try to gain approval of the people they think are judging them.
And they replace confidence with timidity and shyness.
5. Imposter Syndrome and Mental Health
In the research literature, imposter syndrome has focused largely on minorities, including racial and ethnic minorities in university settings and women in prestigious occupational settings. Keep that in mind as I share these findings about how imposter syndrome relates to mental health.
People with imposter syndrome tend to have lower self-esteem, and they tend to experience perfectionism, depression, and anxiety. We know people with perfectionism experience anxiety and depression at higher rates, but this actually seems to be partly explained by imposter syndrome; for example, if a person doesn’t fall into the imposter syndrome trap, then perfectionism might not lead to depression. If you can relate to this, I’ve got tons of articles on overcoming perfectionism.
People with imposter syndrome have trouble recognizing their own potential, which holds them back professionally…they don’t go after prestigious career opportunities that they’re probably qualified for and sometimes avoid promotions. And they feel less satisfied and engaged at work.
Getting Through Imposter Syndrome
In upcoming articles, I’ll share with you tips for overcoming imposter syndrome, so make sure you stick around.
In the meantime, start with my free 5-part course, where I walk you through the psychological patterns that fuel self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Join here.
Next week, a tip for living a balanced life. We’re all trying to do it, right? I’ve got the mindset shift you need. Don’t miss it.
Dr. Finch
P.S. Here’s the summary: Imposter syndrome is real and it’s been researched. I reviewed the definition and some of the key thought and behavior patterns seen in imposter syndrome. Stay tuned for more on imposter syndrome. In the meantime, if you feel like you might be experiencing imposter syndrome or something similar, start with my free 5-part course.
P.P.S. Remember, this is education, not treatment. Always consult with a psychologist or therapist about your mental health to determine what information and interventions are best for you. See the disclaimer for more details.
Hayden C. Finch, PhD, is a practicing psychologist in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicated to helping you master your mental health.