The Great Pretender: do I suffer from Imposter Syndrome or am I just human?
Imposter Syndrome has become a widely used term to describe feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, despite evidence to the contrary. But is it a genuine syndrome, or simply natural moments of self-doubt? And, how can we address these feelings when they arise?
Understanding Imposter Syndrome
The term was first introduced as the “Impostor Phenomenon” by Clance & Imes (1978) and later expanded by Clance & Matthews (1985). Originally observed in high-achieving women, “Impostor Phenomenon” was described as a tendency among successful individuals to exhibit certain characteristics such as:
A need to be special or the best
Fear of failure and being “found out”
Denial of ability and discounting praise
Fear and guilt about success
Various surveys and straw polls suggest 70-90% of people report experiencing what we now know call Imposter Syndrome. And there have, indeed, been some famous “sufferers”
“You think, why would anyone want to see me again in a movie and I don’t know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?”
Meryl Streep (quoted in Marie Claire Nov 2016)
“The exaggerated esteem in which my life work is [held], I feel, compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler”.
Albert Einstein (multiple sources)
However, a fleeting thought, or even a spell of self-doubt, doesn’t mean that we suffer from Imposter Syndrome. It just means that we have experienced moments of self-doubt which led to a thought process making us wonder whether we are worthy of the role we find ourselves in. This may knock us sideways momentarily, but we are able to relatively quickly process all this and move on, thanks to coping mechanisms that we’ve built over time.
A syndrome, on the other hand, is something that is chronic or persistent in nature. In the case of Imposter Syndrome, the imposter moments can cumulate and carry such emotional weight that they become self-maintaining, undermining our confidence and leading us to modify our behaviour. Over time this may cause our performance, self-worth, or mental well-being to deteriorate with the Imposter Syndrome becoming a form of self-fulfilling prophecy.
The role of self-doubt
In simple terms, these moments of self-doubt emerge from a difference between our self-image (how we see ourselves) and the demands of the responsibilities we find ourselves with (how we think that we “should” be).
As a general rule, our self-image evolves slowly over time and yet our responsibilities may evolve rapidly and suddenly for example, when we are promoted or when we become a parent. This is why “Imposter moments” are more common doing times when our responsibilities change.
Over time, this gap tends to close as we gain experience, and our self-image adjusts accordingly, or we simply learn to reduce the expectations that we place on ourselves. However, external support may be helpful to accelerate this process when self-doubt persists.
Managing self-doubt and imposter moments
For fleeting imposter moments, Cognitive Restructuring—used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)—can help reshape unhelpful thoughts. For example for someone newly promoted to an executive committee role, the process might involve:
Identifying distorted thoughts:
Recognising negative self-talk, e.g. “I don’t deserve to be here. I’m going to get fired.”Evaluating the evidence:
Considering alternative perspectives, e.g. “They have been in their roles and operating in this environment longer than me, while I have been gaining experience in other areas.”Challenging the thought:
Questioning its validity, e.g. “It’s normal that I can’t follow this because I am new to this and don’t have the same experience they do.”Reframing the thought:
Developing a more balanced outlook, e.g. “I have been promoted for a reason and have valuable skills to contribute.”
Imposter moments are common (we’re all human)
Most of us will experience imposter moments. Our learned coping mechanisms and proven structured approaches can help manage them, however if self-doubt becomes overwhelming or persistent, seeking professional support may be beneficial.
Ultimately, feeling like an imposter now and then doesn’t mean you are one—it just means you’re human.
For an extended version of this article which explains the phenomenon and cognitive restructuring in more detail, please contact ivan@and-become.com