Do you suffer from imposter syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is a psychological construct in which you doubt your skills, talents, or accomplishments and you often have a fear of being exposed as a fraud. Despite all evidence to the contrary, people experiencing imposter syndrome do not believe they deserve their success or luck. They may think that they are deceiving others because they feel as if they are not as intelligent as they outwardly portray themselves to be.
When the syndrome was first conceptualized, it was thought to be a phenomenon that was common among high-achieving women. Since then, research has shown that it affects both men and women, more or less equally.
There’s a scale designed to measure characteristics of impostor syndrome - the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). The scale is used to determine if characteristics of fear are present and to what extent. Psychometrically it’s not regarded as entirely reliable or consistent and it shouldn’t be used to make significant decisions about people however it has an interesting set of characteristics and Clance suggests that someone with imposter syndrome probably experiences at least two of the following:
The impostor cycle
The need to be special or the best
Characteristics of superman/superwoman
Fear of failure
Denial of ability and discounting praise
Feeling fear and guilt about success.
Research has shown that there is a relationship between impostor syndrome and the following:
Family expectations
Overprotective parent(s)
Graduate-level study
Racial identity
Anxiety
Depression
Low trait self-esteem
Perfectionism
Excessive self-monitoring, with an emphasis on self-worth.
These things aren’t mutually exclusive and while there may be a correlation, there is no causative relationship between these and the impostor syndrome. In individuals with impostor syndrome, feelings of guilt often result in a fear of success. Here are some of the common notions that lead to feelings of guilt and reinforce the phenomenon.
The good education they were able to receive
Being acknowledged by others for success
Believing that it is not right or fair to be in a better situation than a friend or loved one,
Being referred to as:
"The smart one"
"The responsible one"
"The good one"
"Our favourite".
Imposter syndrome is often treated in a group setting where people meet others who are also living with this experience. Group meetings seem to have a significant impact on participants. And that may be because they realise that they were not the only ones who experience these feelings.
Reframing common thoughts and ideas about performance is also a useful strategy. An example would be to change: "I might fail to deliver this report" to "I will deliver a good report". Working on your self-doubt before an event occurs can help eliminate feelings of imposter syndrome. It is also recommended that the people struggling with this experience seek support from friends and family.
In a study in 2013, researcher Queena Hoang suggested that participating in a mentor programme can help minimize feelings of self-doubt. Having a mentor can help you feel supported! Whatever your views, you’re not alone in experiencing imposter syndrome. Here’s a small selection of people who have experienced this phenomenon:
Maya Angelou
Jacinda Ardern
Tom Hanks
Michelle Obama
Michelle Pfeiffer
Nicola Sturgeon
David Tennant
Emma Watson.
Can I help? Message me to discuss your experiences and see if I can help!
