Imposter Syndrome
What is Imposter Phenomenon?
“Imposter Phenomenon” (more commonly known as “imposter syndrome”, although some researchers prefer the less clinical connotations of the Imposter Phenomenon”), was first coined by psychologists Pauline Rode Clance and Suzanne Imes to describe the internal experience of doubting your abilities. Some have described it as the constant fear of being exposed as a fraud which can present itself through questions like:
“Why is everybody smarter/more accomplished/more put together/more advanced than me? When will they realize I’m not as competent as them? Do I belong here? Why should I be here when others from my community could benefit from this/are more worthy of being here than I am?”
The imposter syndrome cycle typically looks like: being presented with a new project or task >> experiencing feelings of anxiety, procrastinating or over-preparing >> completing the project and feeling a brief relief and sense of accomplishment >> rationalising success in negative ways eg. “I was lucky” or “I tricked people into thinking I can accomplish this” >> an increase in self-doubt, anxiety, feeling like a fraud.
When Does it Come Up?
Systemic discrimination and bias, including bias that is racial, xenophobic, gendered etc. can create environments that induce imposter syndrome. Academia can be a hostile environment for minorities where microaggressions, stereotypes and exclusive modes of teaching and learning are some of the triggers for imposter syndrome. Additionally, the culture around elitism/prestige at academic institutions can also cause these feelings. Therefore, simply being around other high achievers at an "elite institution" can cause imposter feelings.
Who Experiences it and What is the Impact?
While Clance and Imes’ research concluded that women were especially vulnerable to experiencing imposter syndrome, other research reflects that minoritised people of different genders, sexual orientations, class and race/ethnic backgrounds, tend to experience imposter feelings. It is reported has a prevalence rate of up to 82% in many professions , including among graduate and college students.
In addition to these predispositions, there are also personality types that are prone to experiencing imposter syndrome. These include perfectionists, experts and highly skilled individuals, those who believe in their “natural” talent and people who prefer to work alone.
Individuals who struggle with impostor syndrome may face difficulties developing their potential for instance, not speaking up in class, not applying for opportunities your are qualified for, etc. It may also be a significant contributor to burnout both among professionals and others.
Tips for Managing Imposter Syndrome?
Because of the systemic structures that contribute to the occurrence of imposter syndrome, the solution is not simply fixing the individual but the creation of inclusive academic environments. This is often beyond the scope of influence of any individual student but, there are ways you can affirm your abilities and remind yourself that you belong. Here are some tips to overcoming imposter syndrome:
1. Remember that you are qualified
- Stanford rejects many more qualified applicants than they accept unqualified applicants, so if you made it in, you are clearly qualified.
- Remember to do things you love and know you can do well. Make your bed, bake cookies, or do a crossword puzzle. Accomplishing small tasks can do wonders for your confidence.
2. Recognize what is actually true
- Don’t compare your first cut to everyone else’s highlight reel. For example, one person’s successful grant proposal comes after many, many rejections!
- There’s more than one definition of success. Figure out what your definition of success is, and use that to guide you.
- Reflect on how far you’ve come. It’s likely much further than you think!
- Remember the bigger picture. You may have failed a class for example, but you’ve succeeded at others.
3. Consider what you can learn
- Identify areas where you would like to improve and list some actionable items that will help you do better there. Recognize the skills you already have and use them to get to where you want to be.
- Celebrate failure! Value effort, not just the outcome. You might not have received the grade you wanted in a class, but you likely learned a lot about the material and about yourself. You can learn from your failure, and try something different next time.
- Take time to reflect on your experiences and practice self-compassion. How would you treat a friend in a similar situation?
4. Know you’re not alone
- It might feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing, but more often than not, they are also feeling like they don’t belong. We’re all in this together.
- Find a supportive community of people who remind you of the world outside Stanford: your family, friends, and community affinity groups, to name a few.
- Learn about the life paths of people you consider successful. They have all failed in different ways and yet they have still succeeded!
- Stanford wants you to succeed. Find the resources that will be beneficial to you.
In addition to the above tips, there are other academic skills that will help combat feelings of being an imposter at Stanford. These include growth mindset and academic resilience.
References
Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006.
Ruchika Tulshyan and Jdi-Ann Burey, 2021, “ Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome: For many women, feeling like an outsider isn’t an illusion — it’s the result of systemic bias and exclusion.” Harvard Business Review
https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
Bravata DM, Watts SA, Keefer AL, Madhusudhan DK, Taylor KT, Clark DM, Nelson RS, Cokley KO, Hagg HK. Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 Apr;35(4):1252-1275. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1. Epub 2019 Dec 17. PMID: 31848865; PMCID: PMC7174434.
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