First coined in the 1970s by Psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance, ‘imposter syndrome’ refers to the psychological experience of feeling like you are undeserving of any genuine success you have achieved. With the proliferation of hustle culture and toxic productivity in recent years, imposter syndrome seems to have become commonplace in the school and workplace environment. However, it can also manifest in relationships and friendships– it is a common yet frustrating phenomenon that holds us back from the self-confidence we deserve and have earned. This article will examine the different types, causes, and ways to cope with this self-debilitating syndrome.
The Five Types of Imposter Syndrome
According to Dr. Valerie Young, an expert on the field of imposter syndrome, there are five basic types, as can be seen in the diagram below:
The Superhero: People with this type of imposter syndrome believe that they must work the hardest or reach the highest levels of achievement possible—and that otherwise, they are frauds.
The Natural Genius: Natural geniuses feel like frauds when they are faced with situations where they don’t get something right the first time, or it takes longer to master something than others. They believe they are an imposter for not being naturally intelligent or competent.
The Expert: In this type of imposter syndrome, people feel as if they need to reach the rank of an ‘expert’—that they are imposters if they don’t know everything there is to know about a particular subject matter.
The Perfectionist: Also the most popular imposter syndrome type, perfectionists place high value on being perfect and flawless. To them, success is rarely satisfying because they always believe they can do better.
The Soloist: Soloists often refuse assistance to prove their worth and believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Reaching a certain status or level alone reassures them that they are worthy.
Do I have Imposter Syndrome?
Anyone is susceptible to developing imposter syndrome; even the father of modern-day physics– Albert Einstein, considered himself an “involuntary swindler”, having doubts about his significant accomplishments and talents. However, catching the thought pattern in its tracks is relatively easy to start enjoying our accomplishments. So, what might having this syndrome look like?
Though it varies for each individual, some common symptoms include…
Overworking yourself due to feelings of inadequacy
Dismissing your success and crediting it to luck
Downplaying your knowledge, abilities, and skills
Constantly comparing yourself to others
Seeking for constant feedback and validation of your performance
Negative self-image, constant feelings of self-doubt, and self-sabotage can create insecurity in various areas of one’s life. But what is the root of this condition?
Causes of Imposter Syndrome
Research suggests that certain personality traits, family upbringing, and social anxiety can contribute to the development of imposter syndrome.
Personality traits: Certain personality traits that might contribute to the onset of imposter syndrome include perfectionism, pessimism, neuroticism, and low self-efficacy.
Family upbringing: The environment you are constantly surrounded with, including familial relationships, parenting styles, etc. can manifest the development of imposter syndrome in people– particularly children.
Social anxiety: Though not everyone who experiences imposter syndrome has social anxiety, a lot of them do– this may be due to the fear of someone possibly 'discovering' their ineptitude through their social incompetence.
Ways to Cope
Overcoming imposter syndrome is, needless to say, incredibly difficult– but it is essential to let go of some of the deeply ingrained beliefs one might hold of oneself, however uncomfortable it may be. There are many things you can do to alleviate such feelings, such as:
Resisting the temptation to compare yourself with others, every time you compare yourself to others, you subconsciously find faults and areas of 'lack' of yourself, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy.
Make realistic assessments of your abilities. This may include writing down your accomplishments and strengths. This can help you reestablish truths about your capabilities and uncover lies your brain might be telling you.
Reducing social media usage: Though social media may allow you to create meaningful bonds and make room for social connections, it can also make you feel all the more inferior and compel you to be more 'perfect' for people on social media.
As the great Nelson Mandela says, “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”– doing all of these things is likely to help you combat feelings of fraudulence. The irony is that people with imposter syndrome are awe-inspiring individuals– people like Emma Watson and Michelle Obama have spoken openly about how their syndrome has taken shape in their lives and what impacts it has brought to them. Imposter syndrome is so challenging because there is no apparent reason for such individuals to feel like an imposter– and yet they still do.
Reference list
Cuncic, A. (2022). Imposter Syndrome: Why You May Feel Like a Fraud. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469.
Munley, K. (2020). Expert or poser? Debunking the psychology behind imposter syndrome. [online] ScIU. Available at: https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/2020/11/21/expert-or-poser/.
Comments