Impostor Syndrome: Why So Many Successful People Doubt Themselves

These characteristics can also influence each other – because emotional lability can, for example, have an impact on low self-esteem or self-efficacy. Nevertheless, the impostor self-concept is considered an independent construct.

Are women more affected than men?

It is now assumed that about 70 percent of people suffer from the phenomenon at least once in their lifetime, both men and women. About half of the executives have already experienced it – according to a study by the consulting company KPMG, about 75 percent of female executives from various industries are said to be affected.

Huge numbers show that probably more people have an impostor issue than one might think. And that’s because people in their own environment rarely deal with it openly and many probably keep their self-doubts to themselves. Yet they perform perfectly.

Typical symptoms: This is how the impostor syndrome manifests

But how do impostors manage to be successful despite internal turmoil? Because, unlike true fraudsters, they are actually quite good at what they do. “These are exceptionally competent individuals whose personality traits allow them to transform their fear of failure and need to be special into a pronounced drive and strong performance motivation,” explains Prof. Dr. Rohrmann.

“They are willing to work exceptionally hard, and their tendency towards perfectionism contributes to very positive work outcomes.” However, this success comes at a high cost, notes the expert. “Individuals with an impostor self-concept often exceed their limits, and work takes up such a large part of their lives that there is no longer any work-life balance.”

The time spent on the job is missing for hobbies, friends, and family. The constant stress is exhausting and can lead to burnout or even depression. It also manifests physically: It is not uncommon for headaches,gastrointestinal issues, sleep disturbances and even high blood pressure the typical accompanying symptoms.

Causes: How the impostor syndrome arises

But how does it come to such a distorted image of one's own perception? It is usually an interplay of various factors. On the one hand, as described, it is in the personality structure. The foundation is often laid in the family, reports Rohrmann. For example, when a child is always made to feel loved for good performance rather than for their own sake – thus a high performance and competition orientation determines a performance-dependent self-esteem.

Another example: A close family member is assigned the role of the "intelligent" one, but the impostor is made to feel like the pretty, empathetic, or social child. Doubts about one's own competence can also arise if no one in the family has studied before and the person concerned is the first to pursue an academic career – thus moving in an unfamiliar environment.

And there is another thing often found in impostor biographies: the endeavor to fulfill their parents' emotional needs – that is, in the sense of parentification, the dream of advancement is passed from one generation to the next. The child tries to meet the expectations of their parents as well as possible.

How can one tell if they are affected?

How can you tell if you belong to the impostor club? Typical traits include feeling that you are not as competent as others think. The question "Am I good enough?" The tendency to attribute success to external factors such as good timing, charm, luck, or quotas. And of course: the fear of being exposed one day and failing at a task – and then everyone knows.

However, it is also important to differentiate: Not every healthy self-doubt is a sign of an impostor issue – only if it tends to increase over time. The extent of the tendency can be determined using special questionnaires – such as the "Clance IP Scale" by Paula Rose Clance or the "ISF Impostor Self-Concept Questionnaire" developed by Sonja Rohrmann and colleagues for the occupational and organizational psychology or clinical field.

It includes 15 statements that describe oneself or one's feelings regarding personal or professional achievements and successes. Here are some example responses: I avoid situations where I might be judged by others, if possible. Or: Although I have already achieved significant successes, I fear that I will not be able to meet others' expectations in the future.

And: I can remember situations where I performed poorly much better than those where I performed well. The statements are rated on a scale from "does not apply at all" to "applies very much," and a score is determined from them. The result of the test can then serve as a basis for a first self-assessment or for a discussion with a professional.

When coaching or therapy makes sense

For coaching or a psychotherapy Prof. Dr. Rohrmann advises when there is significant distress. "This means when the affected person suffers from feelings of inadequacy or fears of failure beyond a normal level, up to burnout and depression. Or when the deviation of emotional or cognitive experience is so strong that the pressure causes severe impairments in everyday life."

In therapy, dysfunctional thoughts or distorted thinking patterns and behaviors such as excessive work style, excessive perfectionism, or tendency to procrastinate are identified and changed. "The goal is to build self-esteem that functions independently of others' evaluations."

How can the impostor syndrome be treated?

What can you do yourself? As first aid measures, the expert recommends keeping a diary of successes and progress—writing them down helps to assess them more realistically. But talking about it also helps—perhaps even with colleagues who support you in changing your thinking patterns.

Also: change the way you handle compliments—don't downplay them, just say thank you. And: always accept challenges—despite the fears (which can be worked on in the end). It can also be helpful to take a closer look at your environment: Because racism, sexism, or prejudices can also trigger or reinforce feelings of inadequacy.

Then perhaps it is more important to work on those issues than on your own mindset. So if you suffer from increasing pressure to perform and massive self-doubt, you should clarify as soon as possible whether there is an impostor issue behind it or not. This way, you can take countermeasures early or end a path of suffering.

So that promotion does not become overwhelming; you can admit weaknesses even as a leader and thus appear even more confident; when a career change is an advancement; or you don't undersell yourself as a freelancer. Because withdrawing or doing the bare minimum is not in the nature of a classic impostor.