Do you believe that you’ve managed to trick everyone into believing that you’re more skilled than you really are? Do you ever dismiss your achievements to a misjudgement, luck or other external factors?
This is frequently referred to as imposter syndrome or impostorism. Imposter syndrome is the fear of being ‘exposed as a fraud’. These individuals fears that others will find out that they really are not as talented/intelligent/capable as they seem.
Ironically, those who experience imposter syndrome are very successful, capable and talented individuals who have achieved a lot. Yet, these individuals will often self-doubt and negative self-talk even in the face of contradicting evidence. It is important to note that imposter syndrome is not a recognised mental disorder, it is simply a psychological phenomenon that people experience.
Researchers Suzanne Ament Imes and Pauline Rose Clance first investigated the idea of impostor syndrome in 1978. They examined 150 women who held PhDs and were well-respected experts in their fields. Clance and Imes found that the women persisted in believing they were not intelligent and that their success was the result of pure luck. They felt that they had deceived everyone about their intelligence and ability, even when contradictory evidence was present. Clance and Imes attributed this to the social and cultural idea of the time that women shouldn’t perform in prestigious and influential roles. Other studies have shown that imposter syndrome is prevalent in academia, where stereotypes, microaggressions, discrimination, and the elitist culture exists.
Dr. Valerie Young explores the 5 types of imposter syndrome in her book, “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women.” According to her, these arise from the individuals’ internal beliefs about what competency means.
The Perfectionist:
A perfectionist is someone who strives to be flawless, every task they do, whether it be in their personal, social, or occupational lives, must be to a high standard. If unsuccessful, by which I mean – anything less than perfect – it is often accompanied with criticism. Such imposter syndrome is accompanied by shame and a lack of appreciation for the effort that has been put in. The individuals perfectionist tendencies leads them to believe that they are not as good as the others, making them feel like an imposter.
The Expert:
Experts are those people who are highly knowledgeable or skilful in a particular area. The key term is, highly. It is surely impossible for an individual to know everything…there is always more to learn. And so, this expert feels like an imposter. When these individuals encounter a novel situation/problem that they don’t have an answer/solution for, they feel like an imposter. They don’t consider themselves experts because they always have more to learn, therefore currently having ‘inadequate information to be an expert’.
The Natural Genius:
The natural genius feels like an imposter because they do not believe they are intelligent or talented. They feel embarrassed or ashamed when they struggle with a task, take longer to acquire a skill, or fail the first time. They hold the belief that a natural genius should be able to perform everything effortlessly.
The Soloist:
When the soloist fails to achieve success on their own, they feel like an imposter. They feel unworthy since they needed help to reach a specific level or status. By embracing any sort of help, the individual believes they are proving their failure to succeed. (Truth be told, everyone needs a little assistance – even a teacher was once a student).
The Superhero:
This type of impostorism is the belief that you must work the hardest or achieve the most. This individual associates competence with their ability to succeed in all roles. Inadequacy occurs when they are unable to successfully manage the demands of their responsibilities.
Impostor syndrome can be a great source of motivation for some, encouraging them to work even harder and succeed, whereas this can be a source of anxiety for others.
It is crucial to combat these feelings of inadequacy by not simply acknowledging your accomplishments, but feeling them and giving yourself credit for your hard work. Keep in mind that your success is the product of your own abilities and efforts, and that you deserve to be where you are. Remind yourself of your accomplishments and the effort you have made to reach this point. Be in the company of positive people who can remind you of your value and help you feel more confident. Keep going knowing that nobody hands out seats for free. You have earned a place at the table.
