Modesty is one thing. But when you attribute your drawerful of trophies to mistakes, luck, and deception, it's a different thing entirely. So say those who describe Impostor Syndrome—the conviction that others grossly overestimate one's abilities. The "impostor" feels she doesn't deserve her accomplishments and fears that eventually she'll be unmasked as a fraud.
The psychiatrist's bible of diagnostic criteria, the DSM-IV, has no entry for IS—many psychologists and educators say it lies on a spectrum of intellectual self-doubt—but in the most extreme cases, this distortion in thinking causes crippling panic attacks and hampers career advancement. Valerie Young, an expert on the condition, identifies several at-risk groups: the first few people in a field, such as women in science; first-generation professionals; people who work alone; those in creative fields; children of high-achieving parents; and perfectionists. For many, the feelings result from expectations of failure from parents or others.
Age is not a factor, but Joseph Ferrari, a psychologist at DePaul University, reports that most "impostors" are women. According to Young, women internalize negative feedback much more readily than men.
Frauds in Our Midst
I asked several acquaintances if they've ever felt, perhaps unreasonably,
that they didn't deserve a success.
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"I fully understand that I'm intelligent. It's a matter of not being as intelligent as I'm perceived to be."
—Heather, 30,
occupational therapist
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"As a female scientist, I'm almost required to have the syndrome. But I do think 'fraud' is too strong a word."
—Laura, 24, molecular biology graduate student
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"My whole career has been one big instance of right place-right time. I honestly feel like anyone could be doing what I do."
—Michael, 28, actor
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