Impostor Phenomenon – Are you just faking it?

Anyone’s who worked in women’s science and engineering outreach programs for a while will eventually come across impostor syndrome – a persistent belief that one’s successes are solely due to luck or good circumstances rather than talent and/or hard work. Often, such feelings are accompanied by the fear of being ‘discovered and unmasked’ as a fraud.

Sounds familiar? Then go and read mrswhatsit’s well-written three-part series (I, II, III) on impostor syndrome and what it implies.

Impostor syndrome, also called impostor phenomenon, hits both men and women [1], although women are more likely to acknowledge their feelings of fraudulence. Clance and Imes [2] noted that among women, impostor syndrome sufferers typically fall into two groups:

1) the woman grows up in a family situation where another sibling has already been regarded as the “smart” one, so any achievements by her are already preconceived to be not as good, compared to the achievements of the smart sibling

2) the woman is regarded as naturally smart by her family, and the impression that she does not have to study hard to get good grades is drilled into her at an early age. Hence, if she has to study or put effort into something, it must be because she’s dumb

In both cases, self doubt grows, and is continually reinforced through societal expectations and stereotyping (“Math class is tough!“).

Here in Singapore, I wonder if there’s not another cultural factor as well – that of Asian modesty. Either consciously or subconsciously, Asians grow up learning to brush off and reject compliments with some stock phrases – “It’s just luck”, “It’s no big deal,” etc. Say it often enough, and one will end up believing it. Blam – imposter phenomenon.

Impostor phenomenon isn’t just a harmless neurosis – the fear of failure and hence being uncovered as a fraud discourages one from moving out of their comfort zone and seizing opportunities which would otherwise lead to greater advancement and fulfilment of one’s potentials.

It certainly happens in our labs with depressing frequency – we’d see attachment students with a talent for research work, and yet when they’re encouraged to do a PhD, they’ll lament about “not being smart enough”.

Certainly something we’re going to have to deal with if we’re aiming to get more kids, particularly girls, into science careers!

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[1]“The Imposter Phenomenon: An Internal Barrier To Empowerment and Achievement”, Pauline Rose Clance & Maureen Ann O’Toole (online pdf) [2] “The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention”, Pauline Rose Clance & Suzanne Imes, Psychotherapy Theory, Research and Practice, Volume 15, #3, Fall 1978 (online pdf)