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Perfectionism And The Impostor Syndrome
Impostor syndrome is the struggle to believe that you deserve your success as result of your hard work and experience. Instead, you attribute it to luck, fluke or being in the right place at the right time. You worry that everyone will eventually realise this, whereupon it will all come crashing down. It goes hand-in-hand with perfectionism. If you're the sort of person who sets unrealistic goals for themselves and then self-flagellates when you struggle to meet them? That's just imposter syndrome in disguise.
Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve all they have achieved.
The term impostor phenomenon was introduced in an article published in 1978, entitled "The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention" by Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Dr. Suzanne A. Imes. The researchers investigated the prevalence of this internal experience by interviewing a sample of 150 high-achieving women. All of the participants had been formally recognised for their professional excellence by colleagues, and had displayed academic achievement through degrees earned and standardised testing scores. Despite the consistent evidence of external validation, these women lacked the internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments. The participants explained how their success was a result of luck, and others simply overestimating their intelligence and abilities.
The researchers determined that the women who experienced impostor phenomenon showcased symptoms related to depression and anxiety.
Recent research has shown that both genders are affected, albeit women still tend to come out on top – academics remain conflicted over whether we are genuinely less confident in our abilities or just happier to admit to it.
Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve all they have achieved.
The term impostor phenomenon was introduced in an article published in 1978, entitled "The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention" by Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Dr. Suzanne A. Imes. The researchers investigated the prevalence of this internal experience by interviewing a sample of 150 high-achieving women. All of the participants had been formally recognised for their professional excellence by colleagues, and had displayed academic achievement through degrees earned and standardised testing scores. Despite the consistent evidence of external validation, these women lacked the internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments. The participants explained how their success was a result of luck, and others simply overestimating their intelligence and abilities.
The researchers determined that the women who experienced impostor phenomenon showcased symptoms related to depression and anxiety.
Recent research has shown that both genders are affected, albeit women still tend to come out on top – academics remain conflicted over whether we are genuinely less confident in our abilities or just happier to admit to it.