01/02/2026
Impostor syndrome (also called impostor phenomenon) is not a mental health diagnosis. It describes a persistent pattern of doubting one’s competence and fearing being exposed as a fraud, despite objective evidence of ability or achievement.
The term was first described in 1978 and remains widely used in psychology, education, and workplace research.
Source:
Clance & Imes, The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women (1978)
Core features
People experiencing impostor syndrome typically:
• Attribute success to luck, timing, or external factors
• Discount positive feedback or achievements
• Hold unrealistically high internal standards
• Fear being “found out” as inadequate
• Feel relief rather than pride after success
These patterns are cognitive and emotional, not a reflection of actual ability.
What contributes to it
Research identifies several contributing factors:
• Early family dynamics
Conditional praise, high expectations, comparison, or inconsistent validation.
Source: Clance, The Impostor Phenomenon (1985)
• Social and cultural context
Higher prevalence in people facing stereotype threat, marginalisation, or role incongruence (e.g. women, ethnic minorities, first-generation professionals).
Source: Steele, Stereotype Threat (1997)
• Perfectionism and fear of failure
Particularly maladaptive perfectionism linked to chronic self-doubt.
Source: Hewitt & Flett (1991)
• Attachment and self-worth patterns
Self-value tied to performance rather than inherent worth.
Source: Mikulincer & Shaver, Attachment in Adulthood (2007)
How it commonly shows up
• Overworking to “earn” legitimacy
• Procrastination followed by intense effort
• Avoiding visibility, promotion, or new opportunities
• Anxiety before evaluations or praise
• Difficulty internalising success
What it is not
• It is not low intelligence or incompetence
• It is not the same as low self-esteem
• It does not reliably decrease with more success
