What is impostor syndrome?
Impostor syndrome (also spelled *imposter*) is the experience of believing that your accomplishments are due to luck, timing or other people’s mistakes rather than your own ability, and fearing that you will eventually be "found out." Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes named it the impostor phenomenon in a 1978 paper. Despite the popular word "syndrome," it is not a recognized mental disorder in the DSM.
- Meaning
- Inability to internalize success, with fear of exposure
- Named by
- Clance & Imes (1978)
- Also called
- Impostor phenomenon, imposter syndrome
- Diagnostic status
- Not a formal psychiatric diagnosis
The original study
Clance and Imes worked with more than 150 high-achieving women, including people with PhDs, faculty members and top students. Despite outstanding records, many felt "I’m not really smart" and "People overestimate me." Later research found that the experience is common among men as well.
Common thoughts and behaviors
| Thought | Behavior |
|---|---|
| "I just got lucky this time." | Brushing off or rejecting praise |
| "Soon everyone will realize I don’t know anything." | Avoiding questions and requests for help |
| "If it isn’t perfect, it’s a failure." | Over-preparing, or procrastinating |
| "Everyone else seems to find this easy." | Constant comparison with others |
After succeeding through over-preparation, people tell themselves it took extraordinary effort; after succeeding despite procrastination, they credit luck. Either way, ability never gets the credit, a pattern Clance called the impostor cycle. Procrastination here resembles self-handicapping.
What the research shows
How common is impostor syndrome? Bravata and colleagues (2020) systematically reviewed 62 studies with 14,161 participants. Reported prevalence ranged from 9% to 82%, largely because studies used different screening tools and cutoffs. It was common in both men and women and across age groups, and especially high among ethnic minority groups. It frequently co-occurred with depression and anxiety and was associated with lower job satisfaction and burnout.
The review found no studies testing treatments for impostor syndrome itself, so it emphasized addressing co-occurring depression and anxiety. See also burnout syndrome.
Ways to cope
- Keep a record of facts: write down feedback, achievements and the skills you used. It gives you evidence against the "just luck" story.
- Name the thought: noticing "this is an impostor thought" helps separate feelings from facts.
- Change the comparison: compare yourself with your own progress instead of others’ highlight reels. Social comparison theory explains why upward comparisons sting.
- Talk about it: sharing with peers or mentors shows you are not alone. If anxiety or depression is significant, consider professional support.
Frequently asked questions
- What is impostor syndrome?
- It is the experience of doubting your own competence despite evidence of success and fearing that you will be exposed as a fraud.
- Is impostor syndrome a mental illness?
- No. It is not a formal diagnosis, but it often occurs alongside depression and anxiety, and professional help can be useful when distress is high.
- How common is impostor syndrome?
- A 2020 review of 62 studies found prevalence estimates ranging from 9% to 82%, depending largely on how it was measured.
References
- Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006
- Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252–1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1