Contextualizing the Impostor "Syndrome".

Sanne Feenstra,Michelle K Ryan,Floor A Rink,Janka I Stoker,Jennifer Jordan,Christopher T Begeny

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024

Abstract

The impostor “syndrome” refers to the notion that some individuals feel as if they ended up in esteemed roles and positions not because of their competencies, but because of some oversight or stroke of luck. Such individuals therefore feel like frauds or “impostors.” Despite the fact that impostor feelings are often linked to marginalized groups in society, to date, research predominantly approaches this phenomenon as an issue of the individual: pointing toward individuals for the roots and solutions of the “syndrome.” Drawing from a rich body of social and organizational psychology research, in this perspectives piece, we propose a shift in how scholars conceptualize and empirically examine this phenomenon. Instead of framing the insecurities of individuals belonging to marginalized groups solely as a problem that arises within these individuals, we argue that it is critical for future research to consider the important role of the environment in eliciting their impostor feelings as well. By doing so, we can address the contextual roots of individuals’ impostor feelings, and offer more structural and effective solutions.

Highlights

Many successful people, from former first lady Michelle Obama, to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, have expressed feeling like impostors
We argue that to fully understand the impostor phenomenon it is important to complement the previous line of work at the individual level of analysis, by adding a contextual perspective on impostor feelings
We presented an alternative perspective on the impostor phenomenon

Summary

INTRODUCTION

From former first lady Michelle Obama, to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, have expressed feeling like impostors. With its roots in clinical psychology, scholars have predominantly depicted the impostor phenomenon as a personality trait that originates within the individuals who experience impostor feelings (for a recent review, see Bravata et al, 2019) This focus on the individual level of analysis is most likely the result of the fact that the phenomenon is reflective of a negative and critical self-concept (Clance and Imes, 1978) and negatively affects the individuals who experience it (e.g., Sonnak and Towell, 2001; McGregor et al, 2008). To fully understand individuals’ impostor feelings, this research suggests that it is key to consider the quality of treatment people receive from others– the types of treatment that communicates a sense of value, worth, and fit In this regard, we contend that individuals may very well feel like impostors when they are treated in ways to suggest they are. Such impostor feelings can be mitigated, when these individuals are treated by others as a person of value and worth

DISCUSSION

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT