Imposter Syndrome

Read the following passages from Carl Richard’s “Learning to Deal with Imposter Syndrome”

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/your-money/learning-to-deal-with-the-impostor-syndrome.html?_r=1

"It’s at the moment when you’re most vulnerable that all your doubts come crashing in around you. When I first heard that voice in my own head, I didn’t know what to make of it. The fear was paralyzing. Every time I sent a sketch or something else into the world, I worried the world would say, “You’re a fraud.”"

"Two American psychologists, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, gave it a name in 1978: the impostor syndrome. They described it as a feeling of “phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement.” While these people “are highly motivated to achieve,” they also “live in fear of being ‘found out’ or exposed as frauds.” Sound familiar?"

Read the following passages from Olivia Goldhill’s article “Is imposter syndrome a sign of greatness?”

https://qz.com/606727/is-imposter-syndrome-a-sign-of-greatness/?utm_source=atlfb

True imposters don’t suffer imposter syndrome (*sometimes*)

There is evidence to suggest that imposter syndrome correlates with success, and that those who don’t suffer imposter symptom are more likely to be the real frauds. People with imposter syndrome tend to be perfectionists, which means they’re likely to spend hours working overtime to make sure they excel in every single field. So if you do suffer from imposter syndrome, chances are you’re doing a pretty good job.

Upbringing, personality, and culture are behind imposter syndrome

There’s still a great deal of uncertainty about the causes. Some studies point to the effects of family dynamics, others emphasize the impact of personality traits such as neuroticism, while the broader cultural effect of being a minority in the workplace are also considered important.

While it is not sex or gender exclusive, it is now believed to be far more prevalent among women than men, especially among women working in male-dominated industries.

Riaz adds that cultural factors may make it harder to notice imposter syndrome in men. “My experience it’s not natural for men to admit feelings of discomfort and vulnerability. So you have to dig deeper and work a lot harder to get under their skin,” she says.