Much scientific literature has recently written about impostor syndrome, also called the impostor phenomenon. Most pop psychology descriptions of this condition, which impairs professional performance and leads to burnout, skew towards making this a syndrome of perceived fraudulence or fear of being seen as fake. However, the fact is that people with impostor syndrome describe a myriad of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and none of the existing scales capture all the facets of this complex and multifaceted syndrome (Mark et al., 2019). Also, contrary to popular belief, impostor syndrome is not limited to highly successful individuals. It depends more on how people respond to specific achievement tasks when there is an element of being appraised.
The six facets that define this phenomenon are discussed below: (Bravata et al., 2019; Clance & Imes, 1978; Walker & Saklofske, 2023).
1. Fake: This attribute is the closest to the original conceptualization of the impostor phenomenon, in which high-achieving individuals, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and persistently fear being exposed as frauds or phonies. They think people tend to believe they are more competent than they really are. If they get a high grade on a work assignment, they feel they have fooled their supervisor or teacher.
2. Luck: People with impostor phenomenon attribute their achievements to external factors such as luck or receiving help from others, or a temporary internal quality such as effort rather than internal qualities such as ability, intelligence, or skills.
3. Self-doubt: This involves people doubting their abilities and accomplishments and seeing themselves as inferior, inadequate, and incompetent compared to their peers. They often worry if others will view them as a success or a failure and are surprised when they perform well on a project. They are afraid that they will fail at a new task even though they have generally done well at what they have attempted. They also worry about whether they will be able to replicate their success.
4. Discount: Individuals feel undeserving of their accolades and discount praise. When complimented, they often explain it away or give credit to others.
5. Avoid: This is the tendency to avoid situations that involve being evaluated or avoid getting involved in competitive environments.
6. Overcompensate: Of all the attributes of impostor syndrome, this one has garnered the least attention. Two ways individuals overcompensate impostor syndrome are by way of perfectionism and over-preparation. Individuals with impostor syndrome feel discouraged if they perform less than perfectly on a task. They often feel that they have to put more effort into their tasks as they don’t see themselves as smart as people around them.
Not everyone with impostor syndrome will have all the six attributes that characterize this phenomenon, and some experiences may be more prominent than others. Impostor syndrome is not a psychiatric disorder but is frequently associated with depression and anxiety (Bravata et al., 2019). In fact, there is an overlap between symptoms of impostor syndrome and depression, particularly concerns with self-worth and being self-critical. In line with this, research suggests that individuals with impostor syndrome may be masking symptoms of depression (McGregor et al., 2008). This makes it important to get screened for depression if one is exhibiting feelings of being an impostor. Some of the attributes of impostor syndrome, such as feeling fake, having self-doubt, or being highly critical of oneself, can be addressed through cognitive restructuring. At the same time, avoidance may be more responsive to behavioral activation, tools used for treating depression.
To learn more about evidence-based self-management techniques that promote mental health and well-being, check out Dr. Duggal's Author Page.
Clance, P. R. & Imes, S. (1978). The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy Theory, Research and Practice, 15(3), 1-7.
Mark, K. K., Kleitman, S & Abbot, M. J. (2019). Impostor phenomenon measurement scales: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 10:671. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00671
1. Fake: This attribute is the closest to the original conceptualization of the impostor phenomenon, in which high-achieving individuals, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and persistently fear being exposed as frauds or phonies. They think people tend to believe they are more competent than they really are. If they get a high grade on a work assignment, they feel they have fooled their supervisor or teacher.
2. Luck: People with impostor phenomenon attribute their achievements to external factors such as luck or receiving help from others, or a temporary internal quality such as effort rather than internal qualities such as ability, intelligence, or skills.
3. Self-doubt: This involves people doubting their abilities and accomplishments and seeing themselves as inferior, inadequate, and incompetent compared to their peers. They often worry if others will view them as a success or a failure and are surprised when they perform well on a project. They are afraid that they will fail at a new task even though they have generally done well at what they have attempted. They also worry about whether they will be able to replicate their success.
4. Discount: Individuals feel undeserving of their accolades and discount praise. When complimented, they often explain it away or give credit to others.
5. Avoid: This is the tendency to avoid situations that involve being evaluated or avoid getting involved in competitive environments.
6. Overcompensate: Of all the attributes of impostor syndrome, this one has garnered the least attention. Two ways individuals overcompensate impostor syndrome are by way of perfectionism and over-preparation. Individuals with impostor syndrome feel discouraged if they perform less than perfectly on a task. They often feel that they have to put more effort into their tasks as they don’t see themselves as smart as people around them.
Not everyone with impostor syndrome will have all the six attributes that characterize this phenomenon, and some experiences may be more prominent than others. Impostor syndrome is not a psychiatric disorder but is frequently associated with depression and anxiety (Bravata et al., 2019). In fact, there is an overlap between symptoms of impostor syndrome and depression, particularly concerns with self-worth and being self-critical. In line with this, research suggests that individuals with impostor syndrome may be masking symptoms of depression (McGregor et al., 2008). This makes it important to get screened for depression if one is exhibiting feelings of being an impostor. Some of the attributes of impostor syndrome, such as feeling fake, having self-doubt, or being highly critical of oneself, can be addressed through cognitive restructuring. At the same time, avoidance may be more responsive to behavioral activation, tools used for treating depression.
To learn more about evidence-based self-management techniques that promote mental health and well-being, check out Dr. Duggal's Author Page.
HARPREET S. DUGGAL, MD, FAPA
REFERENCES
Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M.,…Hagg, H. K. (2019). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4),1252-1275.Clance, P. R. & Imes, S. (1978). The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy Theory, Research and Practice, 15(3), 1-7.
Mark, K. K., Kleitman, S & Abbot, M. J. (2019). Impostor phenomenon measurement scales: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 10:671. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00671
McGregor, L. N, Gee, D. E., & Posey, K. E. (2008). I feel like a fraud and it depresses me: the relation between the impostor syndrome phenomenon and depression. Social Behavior and Personality, 36(1), 43-48.
Walker, D. L. & Saklofske, D. H. (2023). Development, factor structure, and psychometric validation of the impostor phenomenon assessment: A novel assessment of impostor phenomenon. Assessment, 30(7), 2162-2183.
Walker, D. L. & Saklofske, D. H. (2023). Development, factor structure, and psychometric validation of the impostor phenomenon assessment: A novel assessment of impostor phenomenon. Assessment, 30(7), 2162-2183.
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