Key Features:
1. Self-Doubt: Feeling like you don’t deserve success or recognition.
2. Attributing Success to Luck: Believing achievements are due to luck, timing, or others being fooled — not your own abilities.
3. Fear of Exposure: Anxiety that others will "find out" you are not as capable as you seem.
4. Perfectionism: Setting excessively high goals and feeling like a failure if they’re not met perfectly.
5. Discounting Praise: Brushing off compliments or positive feedback as undeserved.
Common Among:
✅High achievers (academics, professionals, creatives)
✅People starting new roles or challenges
✅Minorities in a given field or group (due to feeling "different" or "under scrutiny")
Possible Effects:
✅Stress, anxiety, burnout
✅Avoidance of new opportunities
✅Overworking to "compensate"
It's Important to Know:
Impostor Syndrome is not a clinical disorder — it’s a pattern of thoughts and feelings.
Many highly successful people, like Maya Angelou and Albert Einstein, have admitted feeling like "impostors" at times.
People who experience Impostor Syndrome tend to engage in certain typical patterns of activity or behavior in response to feelings of unworthiness or fear of being “found out” as incompetent. Here are some types of activities that are often done:
1. Overworking
They often work much harder than necessary to prove that they deserve the position or achievement.
Taking on too many tasks in order to be seen as “contributing” more.
2. Procrastination
Delaying tasks because of fear of failure or fear that the work will not be perfect.
Getting caught up in feeling “unprepared” to start or finish something.
3. Perfectionism
Seeking perfect results — sometimes not finishing because of fear that the results are “not good enough.”
Constantly redoing or revising work even though it is actually decent or even very good.
4. Avoidance
Avoiding promotions, new responsibilities, or public speaking opportunities because they feel “not worthy.”
Not daring to speak or voice opinions in meetings or forums.
5. Seeking Constant Validation (Often Seeking Validation)
Constantly seeking recognition, praise, or confirmation from others to feel confident enough.
Feeling anxious if you don't get positive feedback immediately.
6. Discounting Success (Ignoring Your Own Success)
Underestimating your own achievements ("Oh, it was just a fluke", "Everyone can do that").
Not wanting to acknowledge your own abilities or hard work.
7. Hiding or Faking Competence (Pretending to Know)
Trying to hide ignorance or weaknesses for fear of being considered incompetent.
Reluctant to ask or ask for help even though you really need it.