Impostor Feelings Research Articles

Reaching the top but not feeling on top of the world: Examining women's internalized power threats.

More and more women are breaking the glass ceiling to obtain positions of power. Yet with this rise, some women experience threats to their power. Here we focus on women's perceived threats to the stability of their power and the degree to which women feel they do not deserve their power positions, as reflected in their impostor feelings. The present research identifies key workplace characteristics that are associated with these internalized power threats with survey data collected among 185 women in high-power positions. We find that negative workplace experiences (i.e., gender discrimination, denigrating treatment, lack of cultural fit, and lack of mentoring) are associated with a greater sense of power threat, which in turn relates to adverse workplace outcomes (i.e., reduced job satisfaction and increased emotional exhaustion and opting-out intentions). With this unique sample of high-powered women, our findings help illustrate the forces that make women experience power as precarious, thereby shedding light on the disadvantages these women face. We provide suggestions on how to reduce women's internalized power threats.

Medical Students and the Impostor Phenomenon: A Coexistence Precipitated and Perpetuated by the Educational Environment?

People who experience the impostor phenomenon have intense thoughts of fraudulence regarding their intellect or professional activities. This perception of illegitimacy leads sufferers to believe that success in their lives is attributable to some form of error. Despite the phenomenon having been thoroughly researched in a plethora of professional and educational environments, there remains a relative lack of insight into the impostor phenomenon amongst medical students. This research aimed to better understand the relationship between medical students and the impostor phenomenon, and subsequently to investigate whether their coexistence is precipitated and perpetuated by the educational environment. A cross-sectional study of medical students was conducted using a pragmatist approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data, via a questionnaire, focus groups and interviews. The main quantitative measure used was the validated Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), where higher scores indicate more marked impostor experiences. A total of 191 questionnaire responses were received, and 19 students attended a focus group or interview. The average CIPS score for the cohort was 65.81 ± 13.72, indicating that the average student had “frequent” impostor experiences. Of note, 65.4% of students were classed as having “clinically significant” impostor experiences and females scored 9.15 points higher than males on average (p < 0.0001). Examination rankings were frequently cited as a major contributing factor to students’ impostor feelings, and data revealed an increase of 1.12 points per decile that a student drops down the rankings (p < 0.05). Students’ quotes were used extensively to underpin the quantitative data presented and offer an authentic insight into their experiences. This study provides new insights and contributes to our understanding of the impostor phenomenon amongst medical students, and eight recommendations for practice are presented, which are intended to provide medical schools with opportunities for pedagogical innovation.

Intervening on impostor phenomenon: prospective evaluation of a workshop for health science students using a mixed-method design

BackgroundUnaddressed impostor feelings that impede developing interest in science and self-efficacy in conducting research have a dispiriting effect that perpetuates unsatisfactory diversity in the health science workforce when such feelings are experienced more by those historically underrepresented in the workforce. This warrants effective interventions to reduce the impact of impostor feelings and related factors that diminish career resilience. We examined the effects of a 90-minute workshop on impostor perceptions and growth mindset to raise awareness of impostor phenomenon (IP) and develop skills to manage IP successfully for students attending a 10-week summer research experience program.MethodsUsing a convergent mixed-methods design, data were analyzed from 51 racially and ethnically diverse students who participated in an interactive IP workshop. Using students’ half-way and final progress reports about their summer experiences and pre- and post-summer online surveys, we identified how the workshop changed awareness of IP and helped students develop coping strategies.ResultsStudents strongly endorsed the workshop, remarking that its content and personal stories from peers validated their own IP experiences and relieved anxiety by revealing how common the experience was. Many reported applying mindset-changing solutions, including positive self-talk, focusing their thinking on facts about themselves and situation, and grounding themselves firmly against potentially persuasive and confidence-eroding impostor feelings. While students reported end-of-summer impostor feelings at levels similar to before the program, they described being able to manage their feelings better and persist towards goals and challenging tasks. One measure of IP appeared to be addressed through students’ activation of a growth mindset, potentially explaining a specific mechanism for intervention. Discrepancies between qualitative responses and quantitative IP measures demand additional work on IP instruments.ConclusionsA brief, theory-based IP workshop administered by research training programs, including those as short as 10-weeks, can have positive impact on subsequent IP experience and its successful management, with potential long-term impact on retention of a diverse biomedical research workforce.

Exploring Student Service Member/Veteran Social Support and Campus Belonging in University STEMM Fields

Supported by considerable public investment through post-9/11 higher education benefits, student military service members/veterans (SSM/Vs) have been one of the fastest-growing groups of nontraditional students in American universities in recent years. Despite their increased numbers and potential to diversify science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical (STEMM) fields, little research has explored SSM/V academic development and success across university STEMM contexts. This mixed methods study used social capital theory to explore links between STEMM SSM/V social support and a sense of campus belonging—shown to be important to achievement among traditionally marginalized college students—within 4-year campus communities. Social network analyses of surveys indicated that larger SSM/V support networks, including onand off-campus social ties as well as student and university educator ties, positively correlated with campus belonging. Social support networks with military ties, traditionally seen to benefit SSM/V college integration, did not correlate. Interview responses suggested that while belonging can be discouraged among SSM/Vs by military-associated STEMM imposter feelings, it is fostered through student friendship, faculty care, and veteran- focused campus support. Results underscored the importance of authentic interaction as well as purposeful efforts to bring SSM/Vs together with fellow students, educators, and staff.

Deindividualising Imposter Syndrome: Imposter Work among Marginalised STEMM Undergraduates in the UK

Imposter syndrome is the experience of persistently feeling like a fraud despite one’s achievements. This article explores student experiences of imposter syndrome, based on 27 interviews with marginalised STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) undergraduates at two pre-1992 elite UK universities. We argue that imposter feelings are a form of unevenly distributed emotional work, which we call imposter work. Drawing on Sara Ahmed’s ‘diversity work’ concept we explore how marginalised students’ imposter feelings are often in response to, and reinforced by, the exclusionary atmosphere of university, resulting in more imposter work to survive and thrive at university. Three key themes are explored – the situated and relational nature of imposter feelings; the uneven distribution of imposter work; and the myth of individual overcoming – before concluding with suggestions for collective responses to addressing imposter feelings.

‘It feels like you’re going back to the beginning…’: addressing imposter feelings in early career academics through the creation of communities of practice

ABSTRACT In exploring imposter feelings in early career academics, this article examines the impacts of adopting social constructivist pedagogies. It reveals the significance of reflective practice in a Post-Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice programme (PGCAP), supporting professional development in teaching, learning and assessment for new academics in a UK Higher Education context. A qualitative case study approach enabled researchers to gain insight into participants’ experiences; data was collected via semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that causes for imposter feelings are multi-faceted, encompassing factors including interactions with students, and adjusting to university language, culture and systems. Alongside similar studies internationally, the authors present that employing social constructivist pedagogical tools in a planned programme of professional development for early career academics supports the creation of mutually empowering communities of practice (CoP), so addressing threats to professional identity, providing a horizontal alternative to organisational hierarchical support mechanisms, and enabling the construction of a secure academic identity.

Finding “your” people: The impact of mentoring relationships in overcoming barriers to academic achievement in underrepresented student populations

First generation college students, especially those with intersecting identities within other marginalized groups, face many barriers in navigating academia. Among these barriers is the long-established set of negative beliefs about the self, known as Imposter Syndrome. Imposter feelings are often invisible to others, but manifest as anxiety, self-doubt, self-handicapping, or irrational fear of failure in light of previous successes (Craddock et al., 2011). Through an autoethnographic study, this paper explores how mentoring relationships facilitate persistence and academic achievement for underrepresented students. I will analyze the manifestation of imposter feelings in my academic activities and how I was able to overcome these with the assistance of mentoring relationships. This study contributes to the existing literature on the impact of mentoring in overcoming imposter syndrome by providing a unique perspective through the lived experience of both mentor and mentee.Keywords: first-generation students; academic achievement; imposter syndrome; mentorship; underrepresented studentsPart of the special issue Autoethnography in online doctoral education <https://doi.org/10.21428/8c225f6e.9415e58d>

Evaluation of mindfulness practice in mitigating impostor feelings in dental students.

This study examined (i) the prevalence of impostor feelings in first-year dental students, (ii) student perceptions of a mindfulness practice as a tool to cope with impostor feelings, and (iii) students' ability to identify their level of impostor feelings. Two hundred three D1 students at a single institution participated in a mandatory Mind-Body Wellness Course that included the presentation "Understanding Imposter Phenomenon" (lecture #1) and a second presentation "Impostor Phenomenon and Mindfulness: Tools for Success" (lecture #2) 6 months later. Before lecture #2, all students predicted the level to which they suffer from imposter feelings and then took the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) to determine the actual level. After lecture #2, 155 of the students completed a survey on whether the mindfulness practices in the lecture impact their perceptions on coping with impostor feelings. Fifty-two percent of students were classified as frequent or intense impostors by the CIPS. Fifty-one percent predicted their CIPS classification correctly; 43% underestimated their impostor classification. After lecture #2, 86% reported feeling confident they could recognize their impostor feelings, and 93% reported feeling more aware of how impostor feelings influence their thoughts, behaviors, and actions. Eighty-six percent reported feeling the mindfulness exercise was a helpful tool to build habits to cope with impostor feelings; 83% reported feeling confident they could utilize mindfulness practices to mitigate these feelings when they arise. Frequent or intense impostor feelings may be common in first-year dental students. Mindfulness practice has potential to mitigate such impostor feelings.

Utilizing Autoethnography Within a Course Structure to Support Developing Scholars

Developing scholars sometimes struggle to situate their own position in the research and to comprehend how that affects their attitudes and behaviors. They frequently experience imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy, which lead to anxiety toward the research and publication processes. This paper presents a method for incorporating collective autoethnography into a graduate course context, aiming to demystify such processes and to cultivate scholarly identity. The doctoral students in a graduate seminar agreed to journal following course meetings. Following completion of the course, the journal entries were compiled. This compilation was reviewed and reflected on by each member individually, and then the group met to collectively discuss the data. Since that initial study, the developing scholars have elected to continue their work together, with each member continuing to benefit from additional scholarship creation, continued peer mentorship, and a supportive group in which to continue to develop scholarly identity. Brief reflections by the authors illustrate their experiences. Through this collective work, the journals resulting in the autoethnography empowered students to understand their positionality and intersectionality, resulting in rich and layered autoethnographic accounts of learning. Through their interests in the jointly conducted project, students gained a sense of authority and position from which to analyze their growing knowledge and identities as scholars.

An Emphasis on Brilliance Fosters Masculinity-Contest Cultures

Women are underrepresented in fields in which success is believed to require brilliance, but the reasons for this pattern are poorly understood. We investigated perceptions of a “masculinity-contest culture,” an organizational environment of ruthless competition, as a key mechanism whereby a perceived emphasis on brilliance discourages female participation. Across three preregistered correlational and experimental studies involving adult lay participants online (N = 870) and academics from more than 30 disciplines (N = 1,347), we found a positive association between the perception that a field or an organization values brilliance and the perception that this field or organization is characterized by a masculinity-contest culture. This association was particularly strong among women. In turn, perceiving a masculinity-contest culture predicted lower interest and sense of belonging as well as stronger impostor feelings. Experimentally reducing the perception of a masculinity-contest culture eliminated gender gaps in interest and belonging in a brilliance-oriented organization, suggesting possible avenues for intervention.

Lawyering While Black: Perceived Stress as a Mediator of Impostor Feelings, Race-Related Stress and Mental Health Among Black Attorneys

Attorneys suffer from high rates of stress and mental health problems, and Black attorneys, who make up only five percent of all attorneys in the United States, are especially vulnerable due to underrepresentation and experiences of bias. The present study examined perceived stress as a mediator of the impostor phenomenon, race-related stress, and mental health among a sample of 142 Black attorneys (114 women, 25 men). Gender, age, impostor phenomenon, race-related stress, and perceived stress accounted for 51% and 57% of the variance in depression and anxiety, respectively. Perceived stress fully mediated the links between the impostor phenomenon and depression, cultural racism and depression, and impostor feelings and anxiety and partially mediated the link between cultural racism and anxiety. Results suggest that perceived stress is an important mechanism for understanding why the impostor phenomenon and race-related stress negatively impact the mental health of Black attorneys.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Exploring the Impostor Phenomenon in Evaluation

The impostor phenomenon is a psychological construct referring to a range of negative emotions associated with a person's perception of their own "fraudulent competence" in a field or of their lack of skills necessary to be successful in that field. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many practicing evaluators have experienced impostor feelings, but lack a framework in which to understand their experiences and the forums in which to discuss them. This paper summarizes the literature on the impostor phenomenon, applies it to the field of evaluation, and describes the results of an empirical, quantitatively focused study which included open-ended qualitative questions exploring impostorism in 323 practicing evaluators. The results suggest that impostor phenomenon in evaluators consists of three constructs: Discount, Luck, and Fake. Qualitative data analysis suggests differential coping strategies for men and women. Thematic analysis guided the development of a set of proposed solutions to help lessen the phenomenon's detrimental effects for evaluators.

Prevalence and Severity of Imposter Syndrome among Surgical and Medical Residents in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Background and Aims: Imposter syndrome (IS) is defined by a persistent feeling of self-doubt combined with fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite objective measures of success, which threatens mental health and well-being. The prevalence and severity of IS have not been studied among surgical and medical residents on a large scale. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of IS among surgical and medical residents in Makkah hospitals, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed by using the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) on surgical and medical residents in Makkah hospitals. A total of 207 residents were collected by using an online version. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 24. Results: 207 residents fulfilling the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. Only 3.9% of residents had a low level of imposter characteristics, 45.9% had a moderate level, 47.3% had a high level, while 2.9% had intense imposter feelings. In addition, high to intense imposter feelings were detected among 54.4% female residents compared to 42.3% of males. Surgical residents and residents in their first years of residency showed insignificantly higher imposter feelings than others (51%, 61.5% for R2 residents; P&gt; 0.05 for all). All other factors were insignificantly affecting the resident’s imposter syndrome score. Conclusions: Imposter syndrome is prevalent among surgical and medical residents and was significantly higher in females than males in Makkah city hospitals, Saudi Arabia.

The Association between Familial and Parental Factors and the Impostor Phenomenon—A Systematic Review

This systematic review work integrates the findings from studies conducted between 1991 and 2021 on the association between familial and parental factors and the impostor phenomenon, in an attempt to deepen the comprehension of the phenomenon’s etiology. All four forms of familial/parental factors identified in these studies (i.e., parental rearing styles and behaviors, attachment styles, maladaptive parenting and parent-child relations, and familial achievement orientation) were generally found to be moderately correlated with the impostor phenomenon. The prominent group of studies deals with the link between parental rearing styles as an explaining variable, with 7 studies showing somewhat consistent associations between parental (low) care and over-control and an offspring’s impostor feelings. However, when considered simultaneously, the parental variables are shown to be less predictive of impostor scores than some psychological variables such as self-esteem.

The Impostor Phenomenon: Toward a Better Understanding of the Nomological Network and Gender Differences.

The impostor phenomenon (IP) refers to the tendency to perceive oneself as intellectually incompetent and to attribute one’s own success to effort-related or external factors, such as fortunate circumstances. The present study (N=209) aimed to contribute to open questions regarding gender differences in the IP and the nomological network of the IP. The results show that the consistently found key correlates of the IP, that is, lower self-esteem and higher neuroticism, could also play a role in explaining why women report higher impostor feelings than men in many studies. Moreover, the results suggest that IP is characterized by the more maladaptive, socially prescribed perfectionism, which is related to the belief that others expect perfection from oneself, whereas self-oriented perfectionism, which is characterized by a critical view on oneself, plays a smaller role in differences in the IP. Finally, a strong association with the sandbagging construct challenges the conceptualization of the IP as a genuine doubt about one’s own competence, because similarly to IP, sandbaggers present themselves negatively to others, but do so for very strategic reasons in order to create a low expectation base in other individuals. Regression analysis was used to assess the incremental value of the personality factors in explaining variance in the IP. It was found that sandbagging and IP are highly related but not interchangeable.

Towards Owning Accomplishments: The Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Locus of Control and Imposter Syndrome Among Undergraduate University Students

The purpose of this research work is to study and understand the possible relationship two phenomenon’s namely- Self-Esteem and Locus of Control – have with the Imposter Syndrome generated in undergraduate university students in India. This undergraduate student study will allow practitioners working with college students to properly address issues concerning self-imposed negativity resulting from the impostor syndrome by dealing with the factors that might be influencing these feelings. The objectives of the research are to understand the prevalence of Imposter Syndrome in undergraduate university students, to understand the relationship between Self-esteem and Imposter Syndrome, to understand the relationship between Locus of Control and Imposter Syndrome and to understand the relationship between Self-esteem and Locus of Control in undergraduate university students in India. The said dimensions are measured using the Clance IP Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Rotter’s I-E Locus of Control Scale. From the results of the study, all three hypothesis- 1. Imposter Syndrome will be prevalent in undergraduate university students in India; 2. Self-Esteem and Locus of Control will be significantly correlated to the Imposter feelings in undergraduate university students in India; and 3. Self-esteem will be significantly correlated to Locus of Control in undergraduate university students in India- are proven to be true.

Negotiating doctoral STEM studies: An In-depth look at the Black woman impostor

This qualitative study investigated how the impostor syndrome influenced Black women's experiences pursuing terminal degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at a research institution in the southwestern United States. As a Black female researcher engaging with participants through one-on-one interviews, I used Collins’s (2006) Black Feminist Thought (BFT) tenets to collect and analyze data to understand the participants' doctoral journey. Race and gender regularly intersected to shape how they experienced the impostor syndrome during their doctoral journey. Findings revealed participants with low or moderate impostor feelings tended to have positive experiences while those who had frequent or intense impostor feelings had a more tumultuous academic journey. This study does not only highlight the need for continued research on reducing the impostor syndrome's influence on doctoral women in STEM fields but challenges higher education institutions to make concerted efforts to address their needs.

Difference in the Characteristics of Imposter Syndrome in Dental Students of Preclinical and Clinical Phase

Background: People suffering from imposter syndrome despite being competent consider themselves less skillful and incapable. Such individuals are also more prone to regret their choice of career with consequent early drop out, experience burnout, more prone to medical errors, absenteeism and low job satisfaction. The current study aims to determine the difference in the characteristics of imposter syndrome in dental students of preclinical and clinical phase and its gender predisposition. Objectives: 1. To find out the frequency and characteristics of imposter syndrome among dental students. 2. To evaluate the differences in the characteristics of imposter syndrome among dental students of preclinical and clinical year. 3. To determine gender predisposition of imposter syndrome among dental students. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 138 dental students of CMH Lahore Medical and Dental College. A validated questionnaire (Clance IP Scale) containing 20 items with 5-point Likert scale was used to collect data by convenient sampling technique. The characteristics of IP were determined by adding the scores of all items. Descriptive statistics were done, chi-square applied, p-value &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and thirty-eight students filled the IP Scale. The frequency of imposter syndrome is found to be 52.1% among Dental Students. Majority (72) of the dental students have frequent to intense imposter feelings. There is non-significant difference in the IP characteristics of male and female students. No significant difference in the characteristics of imposter syndrome is found between dental students of preclinical and clinical year. Conclusions: There frequency of imposter syndrome is high among Dental students. Non-significant difference in the IP characteristics is found between male and female students as well as students of preclinical and clinical year.

Impostor Phenomenon in Dental Students

Abstract Impostor phenomenon (IP) is the individual experience of extreme self-doubt in which a person attributes successes and accomplishments to external factors rather than his or her own talent, capabilities, or effort (Clance &amp; Imes, 1978). For students, IP can cause significant and persistent interference in academic and professional experience (Clance, 1985b; Cromwell, Brown, Sanchez-Huceles, &amp; Adair, 1990; Henning, Ey, &amp; Shaw, 1998; Li, Hughes, &amp; Thu, 2014; McGregor, Gee, &amp; Posey, 2008; Oriel, Plane, &amp; Mundt, 2004; Thompson, Davis, &amp; Davidson, 1998). To date, there is limited research on IP in the dental student population, with no known research specifically on the extent to which dental students suffer from impostor feelings. Using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (Clance, 1985a), this study measured the level of reported impostor feelings in a sample of dental students at a dental school located at a small private university in the Midwestern United States. Relationships between gender, class year, race or ethnic identity, first-generation (in dentistry) status, and reported levels of IP were explored. In this study, a majority (58.3%) of the dental students in the sample exhibited levels of IP above the clinical threshold, demonstrating the significant impact of impostor feelings on their academic, professional, and personal lives. Statistically significant differences in CIPS scores were found when evaluating differences between race or ethnic groups (those identifying as Hispanic, Latino, or Latina versus those not identifying that way) and when comparing scores for URM and non-URM students. The study fills a gap in the existing body of knowledge regarding the prevalence of IP in the dental student population. For researchers, educators, and administrators in dental education, this study establishes a benchmark for measuring the incidence of IP, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of how to effectively and holistically educate students in dentistry.

ПСИХОЛОГІЯ ФЕНОМЕНУ ІМПОСТОРА: ЕМПІРИЧНИЙ РАКУРС

The article presents the results of theoretical and empirical research on psychological features of the Impostor Phenomenon manifestations. The key features of Imposter Phenomenon are highlighted via theoretical analysis and the importance of emotional, behavioural and cognitive aspects of its display are accentuated. The empirical study analyzed specifics of the Impostor Phenomenon display which depended on the respondents’ subjective assessments of their emotional states in situations evoking impostor feelings (such as intensive feelings of anxiety, helplessness, exhaustion); components of perfectionism; behavioural self-regulation and psychological well-being. People with frequent impostor feelings and intense experiences of the phenomenon reported increased levels of anxiety, helplessness and exhaustion. In addition, these people were characterized by focusing on excessive planning and programming of their actions, which sometimes interfered with ability to flexibly adjust behaviour and led to inadequate assessment of their actual capabilities and obtained results. The high perfectionism of such people had a negative impact on psychological well-being, hindering self-acceptance. People with a moderate level of the impostor experience reported feelings of calmness and self-confidence, a sense of sufficiency and ability to perform a new task successfully. They were lesser concerned about making mistakes and doubted less about their actions, while maintaining fairly high personal standards. In addition, they demonstrated a relatively highly adequate evaluation of results and adaptability of developed action programs. They were characterized by a relatively better psychological well-being and a focus on self-acceptance.