What is “Imposter Syndrome”?

While the commonly used phrase “imposter syndrome” contains the word ‘syndrome’, it is not a medical condition at all. “Imposter syndrome” is a pattern of thinking where a person doubts their abilities or accomplishments. They may have a persistent fear of being exposed or deemed a "fraud" by their peers. People experiencing this phenomenon may feel like they don't deserve to be where they are, or to have achieved what they have. They often feel this way despite evidence to the contrary and can attribute their success to luck or deceiving others.

The phrase was first introduced through the field of clinical psychology in the 1978 article: “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention (PDF)” by Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Dr. Suzanne A. Imes. Outside of psychology, Imposter Phenomenon has since been commonly referred to as “imposter syndrome”, even though this is not a mental disorder, illness or condition. Those who experience it however may also suffer from anxiety or depression, which are recognised as mental health conditions.

Contexts in which Imposter Phenomenon feelings can occur include:

• New environments, such as a new city or workplace

• Academic contexts

• At work

• During social interactions

• Any type of relationship

People experiencing this may feel that they do not live up to the expectations of others. They may feel unworthy or undeserving their relationships and the attention or validation they receive from them.

See other articles in this category for more insights about “Imposter Syndrome”