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Abstract
Following up on earlier investigations, the present research aims at validating the construct impostor phenomenon by taking other personality correlates into account and to examine whether the impostor phenomenon is a construct in its own right. In addition, gender effects as well as associations with dispositional working styles and strain are examined. In an online study we surveyed a sample of N = 242 individuals occupying leadership positions in different sectors. Confirmatory factor analyses provide empirical evidence for the discriminant validity of the impostor phenomenon. In accord with earlier studies we show that the impostor phenomenon is accompanied by higher levels of anxiety, dysphoric moods, emotional instability, a generally negative self-evaluation, and perfectionism. The study does not reveal any gender differences concerning the impostor phenomenon. With respect to working styles, persons with an impostor self-concept tend to show perfectionist as well as procrastinating behaviors. Moreover, they report being more stressed and strained by their work. In sum, the findings show that the impostor phenomenon constitutes a dysfunctional personality style. Practical implications are discussed.
Highlights
In the 1970s the psychotherapists Clance and Imes (1978) noticed that some highly educated female individuals, objectively highly successful women, reported an extreme fear of failure
As for the working styles associated with the impostor phenomenon, we found that persons with an impostor selfconcept tend to show both perfectionist and procrastinating behaviors as expected in hypothesis 1
The present study contributes to validating the construct impostor phenomenon
Summary
In the 1970s the psychotherapists Clance and Imes (1978) noticed that some highly educated female individuals, objectively highly successful women, reported an extreme fear of failure. Instead of gaining self-confidence from their professional or academic success, they felt uncertain about it and attributed it to other factors than intelligence, for instance, personal charm, luck, or hard work. Despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the impostor phenomenon persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise”. The core characteristics of the impostor phenomenon have been described as (1) the sense of having fooled others into overestimating one’s ability, (2) the attribution of success to some other factor than intelligence or ability, and (3) the fear of being exposed as a fraud (Harvey and Katz, 1985, cf Leary et al, 2000).
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