Imposter Syndrome – Signs and Impact

by | 22 Oct 2024 | Positive Resilience, Unleashing You

Have you ever felt like you’ve just been lucky or that any moment someone will discover you don’t really deserve your success? If you’ve had these thoughts, you’re not alone. This is Imposter Syndrome (IS) which causes people to doubt their abilities and fear they’ll be exposed as a fraud.

Imposter Sydrome

Imposter Syndrome (IS), is a common psychological pattern that causes people, particularly high achievers, to doubt their abilities and fear they’ll be exposed as a fraud.

Despite clear evidence of their skills, people with IS often believe their success is due to external factors, like luck or timing, rather than their own competence. Many high profile and indisputably successful people have talked about experiencing IS e.g. Sheryl Sandberg, Serena Williams, Michele Obama, and Meryl Streep.  And it is not just women Tom Hanks and David Tennant have both spoken about it in the past.

Imposter Syndrome was first identified in 1978 by psychologists Clance and Imes, who studied high-achieving women who felt like they didn’t truly deserve their success. Today, research shows that people of all genders and professions experience these feelings, and it can affect anyone, no matter how accomplished they are.

Common Signs of Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome shows up in a variety of ways. Some of the most common signs are:

  • Perfectionism: There is a link with perfectionism where people set very high standards for themselves and feel they must be faultless in everything they do.  Anything less that perfection and even minor errors are taken as proof that they’re not good enough.
  • Attributing Success to External Factors: Even after major accomplishments people dismiss success as luck or thinking they just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
  • Fear of Failure: A constant fear of being exposed as a fraud can make those with IS hesitate to take on new challenges or put themself forward for opportunities you deserve.
  • Overworking: Some people with IS push themselves to work harder and longer than necessary to “prove” they’re good enough, which can quickly lead to burnout.
  • Dismissing Positive Feedback: When people compliment work, those with IS feel uncomfortable or dismiss their praise, believing they don’t see the “real” person.

The Impact of Imposter Syndrome on Health

Living with Imposter Syndrome isn’t just emotionally exhausting; it can take a toll on your health, too. Constantly questioning your abilities can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety, and in some cases, it may even contribute to mental health issues like depression.

  • Mental Health: Research shows that people with IS often experience anxiety and depression. This makes sense when you consider the pressure they’re under — always worrying they’ll be found out as a fraud is incredibly stressful.
  • Burnout: Trying to overcompensate for perceived lack of competence can lead to burnout. People with IS often work excessively hard to prove themselves, but this only drains  energy and can leave them feeling exhausted and defeated.
  • Perfectionism and Self-Doubt Cycle: If you’re always striving to be perfect, you’re likely to feel disappointed when you inevitably fall short of your impossible standards. This only reinforces feelings of self-doubt, creating a cycle that’s tough to break.

Impact on Work and Performance

Imposter Syndrome doesn’t just affect your mental health; it can impact performance, too. When you’re constantly doubting your abilities, it’s hard to put yourself out there and go for the opportunities you deserve.

  • Avoiding Leadership or New Opportunities: Many people with IS shy away from leadership roles or new challenges because they’re afraid they’re not up to the task. This can hold them back from reaching their full potential.
  • Underperformance: While some people with IS overwork to compensate for their self-doubt, others might find themselves holding back, afraid that taking risks will expose their “fraudulence.”
  • Job Satisfaction: When you’re constantly doubting your abilities and fearing you’ll be “found out,” it’s hard to feel satisfied or confident in your work. Over time, this can drain your motivation and passion for what you do.

Gender Differences in Imposter Syndrome

Although experienced by both men and women, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that there are differences in how imposter syndrome manifests across genders. Here are the key points to consider regarding its differences:

  • Prevalence and Severity:  Women tend to report experiencing IS more frequently and intensely than men. Social conditioning, societal expectations, and gender norms often reinforce these feelings in women.   Men experience it as well but may underreport it due to cultural expectations of masculinity and the pressure to appear confident and competent.
  • Triggers: Women often experience IS in fields traditionally dominated by men (STEM, leadership roles). This is linked to societal messages that women are less capable in certain areas, reinforcing feelings of self-doubt.  Men may experience imposter syndrome when stepping into roles traditionally associated with women or when they feel they are failing to meet masculine ideals of success, control, and dominance in their professional or personal lives.
  • Response and Coping Mechanisms: Women may internalise their imposter feelings, leading to perfectionism or overworking to compensate.  Men, on the other hand, might externalise these feelings through overconfidence or avoidance to mask their insecurities, as admitting self-doubt can be perceived as a sign of weakness.
  • Social Support:  Women are more likely to share their feelings of IS with others, seeking validation and support. This can sometimes be helpful, but it can also reinforce the idea that these feelings are widespread and normal, thus perpetuating them.  Men are less likely to admit to experiencing imposter syndrome due to fear of judgment or seeming weak, which can lead to isolation and internalised stress.

Conclusion

Imposter Syndrome can make life feel like a constant balancing act, where you’re always trying to keep up appearances and avoid being “found out.” It’s exhausting, and it takes a toll not just on your mental health, but on your ability to thrive at work and in life.

The good news is that by recognising the signs and understanding the impact, you can start to take steps to challenge these thoughts and rebuild your confidence.

In my next blog I set out practical ways to overcome Imposter Syndrome — because you deserve to feel proud of your accomplishments!

#Impostersyndrome #Buildingconfidence #selfdoubt #selfconfidence

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