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To attain "success" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an impostor anxiously awaiting exposure - Nathaniel Branden, psychotherapist.

phenomenon

What is impostor syndrome?









Video credit: TedEd.





Hierarchy in STEM

"Winging" it





Can we ever know "too much"? Image credit: Pixabay.

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At what stage in an individual's professional development can impostor syndrome strike? "I started experiencing impostor syndrome very early in my PhD. At lab meetings we’d often discuss things I had only a scant concept of. Even though these things were related to research outside of my field I was convinced that not knowing about it was proof that I was effectively conning everyone." Swift adds. "I realize now that this is simply inexperience and it’s physically impossible to know everything about things that even cutting-edge science hasn’t fully elucidated yet!"



Research suggests that Swift isn't alone in what he is feeling. The aforementioned study, “I must have slipped through the cracks somehow”: An examination of coping with perceived impostorism and the role of social support, found that 20% of the college students in the study cohort experienced very strong feelings of impostorism.





Is impostor syndrome impacting the quality of research in STEM?

Gender and culture in impostor syndrome: "A sense of belonging fosters confidence"





"The only way to stop feeling like an impostor is to stop thinking like an impostor"





Become consciously aware of the conversation that is going on in your head when you have feelings of impostorism.





Step back and look at the broader situation.





"I think we over-psychologize this, and we really need to take a step back and look at the context. If you're a graduate student in STEM, almost by definition you're going to have impostor syndrome. You're constantly being tested on your knowledge, and this makes you more susceptible," she comments.



Young then asks individuals to look at how they are thinking. She says, "People who don't feel like impostors are no more intelligent, capable or competent than people who are. They're just thinking different thoughts."





Creating cultures where failure and mistakes are embraced

Valerie Young and Matt Swift were speaking with Molly Campbell, Science Writer, Technology Networks.

1. Gardner et al. 2019. “I must have slipped through the cracks somehow”: An examination of coping with perceived impostorism and the role of social support. Journal of Vocational Behavior. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103337.





2. Clance and Imes. 1978. The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0086006.





3. Persky. 2018. Intellectual Self-doubt and How to Get Out of It. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. DOI: 10.5688/ajpe6990.



*‎ spelling has been amended to align with TN style guidelines.