Imposter syndrome

A psychological pathology in which a person cannot accept his or her achievements is impostor syndrome. Let's consider the causes and symptoms of the phenomenon, and methods of treating it.

About 70% of people face this pathology, most often it is diagnosed in women. The phenomenon manifests itself in the form of disdain for one's own achievements and successes. A person avoids praise and recognition, reacts painfully to criticism and constantly compares himself with others. For some, the syndrome is an obstacle to normal life and building relationships, and for others it is an incentive for self-improvement and achieving something new.

"Impostors" are confident in their own weakness, explaining their successes as follows: it was a simple task, just luck, or a happy coincidence. That is, in any situation, success is explained by some chance, while the role of one's own work and efforts is diminished.

If we consider the meaning of the word impostor, then this is someone who pretends to be someone else. With this complex, a diametrically opposite situation is observed, in other words, "an impostor in reverse." Patients are unable to recognize their own achievements and positive work results. They have the impression that everything they have was obtained by mistake. Such people live in constant stress, as there is a fear of exposure. The patient thinks that he can make a mistake, and everyone will find out about his incompetence and stupidity. But the biggest fear is that others do not see the deception.

Epidemiology

Imposter syndrome does not have a clear pattern of occurrence. The epidemiology of this disorder is more related to its causes and provoking factors. According to a recent psychological study, two out of five successful people consider themselves impostors. At the same time, about 70% of respondents encounter imposter syndrome from time to time.

According to available information, such famous people as scientist Albert Einstein, screenwriter Chuck Laurie, actor Tommy Cooper, actress Emma Watson and others are familiar with this complex. Some scientists claim that the syndrome is more common among women, while others point to its emotional aspect. That is, under the influence of emotions, for example, when a person feels completely helpless, cognitive indicators deteriorate. This leads to the fact that the feeling of social alienation temporarily affects self-perception.

If we consider the demographic aspect of the pathology, the most cases are registered among African Americans, gifted children and sexual minorities. Due to discrimination, people from visible minorities are more likely to doubt their own abilities. Very often, the phenomenon is observed among students and people in leadership positions.

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Causes imposter syndrome

Like most psychological disorders, the causes of impostor syndrome must be sought in childhood. This phenomenon is a reaction to certain patterns of behavior of others and parents. Most often, the factors that provoke the pathology are:

1. Rivalry and excessive demands. The disorder may occur in people growing up in families with several children. For example, the eldest child has to compete with the younger ones for parental attention and love.
2. Erroneous parental perception. The syndrome occurs when parents perceive an adult as he was in childhood. Constant phrases: "you are doing it wrong", "you will not succeed", "you do not know how to manage money" and many other things are deposited in the subconscious. Even if a person has overcome all his childhood shortcomings, but parents see him as a stupid child, then all achievements seem fictitious. The patient perceives his success as an illusion and the merits of others.
3. Excessive idealization. If a child is often praised for his beauty and cuteness, then in adulthood all successes can be perceived not as personal achievements and professionalism, but as something that is obtained through charm and beauty. In this case, women are more susceptible to impostor syndrome than men. Another option is when a child is praised and extolled for ridiculous actions, because of which the child begins to consider himself better than others, a genius. Growing up, such people face reality, realizing that they are not as talented as their parents estimated them to be. At this point, there is an awareness and reassessment of their own capabilities and achievements, which are most often perceived as self-deception.
4. Perfectionism in everything. Children who grow up in families where parents pay too much attention to the achievements and successes of the child are prone to the syndrome. In this case, there is a deficit of parental understanding, acceptance, warmth and care. Emotional trauma received in childhood does not allow them to fully perceive their successes and achievements in adulthood. Such children grow up as insecure workaholics who set unattainable goals for themselves and constantly torment themselves because of failures.
5. Cultural attitudes. This factor most often affects women. This is due to the established foundations of society. That is, a woman must be modest and has no right to declare her successes. This causes a feeling of worthlessness in front of men. But this cultural stereotype can also arise in men. The disorder is associated with the traditional idea of masculinity. That is, a man has no right to talk about his own failures, feelings or vulnerability.

Based on the above reasons, we can conclude that impostor syndrome is part of the personality structure of the neurotic spectrum. Most often, it occurs in people who are unsure of their abilities and knowledge. This provokes the desire to hide their feelings, hiding under the mask of an "imposter" and fearing exposure.

Risk factors

Many successful people in life face certain psychological experiences caused by overestimation of their own strengths and capabilities. The phenomenon is called impostor syndrome. Risk factors for this disorder are associated with the period of personality formation, that is, childhood, namely family and environment.

Very often, those who grew up in low-income or dysfunctional families face the disorder. Such people grew up according to the model instilled by their parents: to live poorly, to work at a low-paying job, not to aspire to better things. Having reached career heights, a person begins to feel out of place.

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Pathogenesis

The mechanism of origin and development of the inability to internalize one's achievements is associated with such factors as:

• Mental and physical conditions caused by psychotraumatic events.
• Personality traits.
• Unfavorable family and other social factors.
• Hereditary predisposition to psychological disorders.
• Various neurodynamic shifts.

The pathogenesis of impostor syndrome is associated with cognitive distortion. Its essence lies in the inability to correctly assess one's abilities and qualifications. Frequent mistakes in the past and the negative influence of others lead to underestimation of one's abilities, and sometimes rights.

Symptoms imposter syndrome

Psychosomatic symptoms of impostor syndrome are conventionally divided into the following categories:

• Feeling like a pretender.

It seems that all achievements are undeserved, and professional successes are false. As a rule, impostors live with fears of exposure, for example, that colleagues or superiors will understand the level of their incompetence. Fear of exposure significantly increases the fear of failure and fear of success. Achieving any goals is perceived as a great responsibility.

• Attributing your success to luck or external factors.

People perceive their achievements not as a result of long-term work, but as luck. Very often women explain their promotion not by their own professionalism and knowledge, but by their pretty appearance and other factors.

• Devaluing one's own successes.

All achievements are perceived as unworthy of attention. The impostor believes that success was achieved in an overly easy way. Such people cannot normally perceive praise and compliments.

All the symptoms described above require more detailed diagnostics. At the same time, impostor syndrome is not an absolute diagnosis, as some people may experience some symptoms, but not feel others.

First signs

Psychologist Gail Matthews has created a questionnaire that helps identify the first signs of the pretender syndrome. According to the scientist's research, most successful people admitted that at one time or another in their lives they felt like impostors.

To identify the first signs of the disorder, it is enough to answer the following questions:

• You believe that your success is due to a mistake, a combination of circumstances, or luck.
• Do you agree with the statement: “If I can do it, then anyone else can do it too.”
• Minor shortcomings or problems at work cause feelings of guilt and suffering.
• Constructive criticism makes you feel inadequate and depressed.
• Any success makes you feel guilty and creates the impression of deceiving others.
• You constantly feel the fear of being “exposed” and consider it a matter of time.

A positive answer to any of the above statements is the first symptom of cognitive distortion. But its main feature is that successful people who cannot accept their achievements suffer from it. This is due to the fact that the problem of transforming one's competence into an internal feeling is broken.

Stages

Like any neurotic disorder, impostor syndrome has certain stages. To determine the severity of the disorder, it is necessary to answer the following questions:

1. I very often give up on projects I’ve started, even if they are successful and promising.
2. If I am lucky in something, then in the future it entails troubles and a streak of bad luck.
3. I always lack something to achieve my goals and success.
4. When everything is going well for me, problems arise in my relationships with my family and friends.
5. I try not to take on unnecessary responsibility so as not to give others hope.
6. I think more about avoiding failure than about achieving positive results.
7. I don't strive to show success and I don't boast about my skills.
8. It is important for me to manage my own time.
9. I try not to make serious decisions, especially if they could have irreversible consequences.
10. Praise and compliments from strangers cause feelings of awkwardness, fear and shame.
11. I was treated very demandingly as a child.
12. As soon as I achieve personal or professional success, I ruin everything myself.
13. I agree with the statement that it is better to live quietly, avoiding changes and not attracting attention to yourself.
14. Sometimes I have a desire to change something in my life, usually to the diametrically opposite.
15. Success makes me lose interest in life, feel depressed, melancholy. It creates a feeling of routine.

If you have 3 to 5 positive answers, then this is the initial stage, which is easily corrected. 5-7 statements - the fear of success has a significant negative impact on your life and professional activity. 7 or more affirmative answers indicate a serious psychological pathology, for the treatment of which you need to contact a psychotherapist.

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Forms

The impostor syndrome has several stages and types that determine the symptoms of the pathological condition and the possibility of its correction. Let's consider the main types of neurotic disorders:

• Professional incompetence

In any field of activity, the level of competence is especially important. To assess career growth, the Peter principle is used, according to which in a hierarchical system, each employee cannot rise above his level of competence. That is, any person will climb the career ladder until he takes a place where he cannot cope with his duties. But with the pretender syndrome, this theory is violated, since even professionally savvy people, due to internal discomfort, lose their competence and cannot move in the hierarchical system.

• Communicative incompetence

This type of disorder indicates an inability to build relationships with other people. There are many reasons for such incompetence. Most often, it is associated with imposed stereotypes, that is, incorrect judgments regarding certain situations or people. This leads to misunderstanding of others and others. The disorder may be associated with a biased attitude towards oneself and a tendency to reject everything new or unusual. In most cases, these factors lead to the impossibility of normal contact with people. This negatively affects professional activity and personal life.

• Emotional pretense

This type of syndrome is associated with the lack of skills or their low level of development in managing emotions. This leads to the fact that any interactions with other people are carried out without an emotional context. One example is anger, tears or laughter in situations inappropriate for these emotions.

Complications and consequences

Imposter syndrome, like any other neurotic disorder, can cause serious consequences and complications. The first thing that people with fear of success face is perfectionism. They try to do something that is beyond their strength and abilities, so that no one will doubt their competence. Even when overwhelmed with work, they do not delegate part of their authority to others because of the fear that someone will doubt their knowledge and skills.

Such "impostors" become real dictators in the team. They work hard, and mistakes, both their own and those of others, are unacceptable. People rush from one extreme to another, often changing their line of behavior. Such destructive behavior leads to self-destruction of the individual. Loss of motivation, guilt, biased attitude towards one's own successes and a pronounced negative attitude are actions that are deliberately aimed at failure.

Despite the possible negative consequences, the syndrome also has a number of advantages. Thus, people who have encountered the disorder intentionally use it to achieve tangible success in one area or another. For others, the benefit of the disorder is better socialization in society. They do not boast about their own achievements, but on the contrary, underestimate their success. This does not provoke hostility or envy in others, but on the contrary, causes a feeling of pity. But, despite this, the pretender syndrome is a serious obstacle to achieving goals and personal development.

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Diagnostics imposter syndrome

As a rule, cognitive impairments have no external manifestations. Diagnosis of impostor syndrome is aimed at identifying internal problems with inadequate self-esteem. People with this disorder do not stand out from others, so others are surprised to learn about such a problem.

To identify the disorder, special tests and questionnaires are used, let's consider one of them. You have a fear of success if you agree with most of the statements:

• Any criticism, including constructive criticism, causes a feeling of resentment.
• You are afraid that people might find out about your gaps in knowledge and shortcomings.
• You are afraid to take on responsibility and new responsibilities.
• You feel like you don’t know or understand too much, unlike those around you.
• You perceive all your merits and achievements as luck, and not as the result of your own knowledge and efforts.
• You feel like you can't do anything and pretend to be a professional.
• Very often you catch yourself thinking that those around you are much more talented and capable than you.
• You compare yourself to others, but not to your advantage.
• You spend a lot of time analyzing your failures, but don’t pay attention to your achievements.

The impostor syndrome is diagnosed as a problem with the transformation of one's own competence into an internal feeling. The presence of real achievements and successes is not perceived emotionally. A psychotherapist is engaged in the diagnosis and correction of this condition.

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Differential diagnosis

Many neurological disorders have similar symptoms, which is why differential diagnostics are used to recognize them. Imposter syndrome is not defined by behavioral signs or symptoms, as it is characterized by internal experiences and fears that hinder personal growth and normal life.

Psychological pathology is differentiated from various personality and dissocial disorders and dysfunctions. The whole difficulty of diagnostics is that it is necessary to determine the root cause and the period of occurrence of the disorder. It is very important to correctly assess the factors that provoke the disorder and the degree of its severity. It is also necessary to clearly distinguish between the norm and deviations.

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Treatment imposter syndrome

Cognitive distortions leave a negative imprint on the quality of life, so they require correction. Treatment of impostor syndrome is aimed at mitigating and compensating for its negative manifestations, reducing the level of anxiety and fear of success.

To eliminate the pathological condition, the following methods are recommended:

• Focus on work or study. You need to focus on the process itself, not on the results. If you have fears of your own incompetence or feel that you are not smart and educated enough, you can sign up for all sorts of courses or personal growth trainings. They will help you appreciate your own capabilities. And do not forget that only those who do nothing make no mistakes.
• Don't strive for perfection. "Good enough" is much better than "excellent". Don't idealize yourself. It is important to understand that even the most talented, intelligent and successful people perform routine work and can make mistakes.
• Expose yourself. Share your experiences with loved ones or consult a psychologist. Don't keep all your fears to yourself, don't engage in self-destruction.

In severe forms of the disorder, drug therapy with antidepressants may be prescribed. But in most cases, significant results can be achieved with the help of psychological and social therapy.

Prevention

Methods for preventing a personality disorder characterized by fear of success are aimed at correcting self-perception. Prevention consists of reducing the intensity of experiences and recognizing your fears. It is necessary to understand the causes of the problem, that is, what or who caused the lack of confidence in your own strengths and achievements. Try to objectively evaluate your own achievements and contribution to the common cause.

Don't take all the criticism on yourself, not all of it is objective and has a right to exist. Don't forget that there can be no success without mistakes. Write down all your achievements and advantages in this or that business. Reread this list regularly, it should evoke a sense of pride. Another reliable way to prevent impostor syndrome is timely psychotherapy. A doctor will help you cope with the neurotic disorder and its destructive effects.

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Forecast

Imposter syndrome requires long-term and comprehensive treatment. The prognosis depends on timely diagnosis and the chosen methods of therapy. Particular emphasis is placed on psychotherapy, which will allow you to change the tactics of self-condemnation and soberly assess your achievements and successes. Advanced stages of the disorder are characterized by self-destruction of the personality and antisocial behavior. Their prognosis is negative in most cases.