- Imposter syndrome meaning
- Is imposter syndrome a mental health condition?
- Common signs of imposter syndrome
- How common imposter syndrome is
- Imposter syndrome at work and in business
- Ways people cope with imposter syndrome
- When to talk to a GP or therapist about imposter feelings
- Writing about confidence and wellbeing
- Frequently asked questions
Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you're a fraud and your success is down to luck, even when there's clear evidence you're capable. Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes described it in 1978. It isn't a medical diagnosis, but if self-doubt is affecting your wellbeing, talk to your GP or a therapist.
You land the client, get the promotion or finish the project, and a little voice says it was luck and someone's about to notice you don't belong. If that sounds familiar, you're in good company. Imposter syndrome is one of the most talked-about experiences in working life, especially among people who run their own businesses.
I've written this explainer from the research summary on Wikipedia, which draws on the original 1978 paper and later studies, plus NHS guidance on getting support. It's general information. Imposter syndrome isn't a medical diagnosis, but if self-doubt is affecting your mood, sleep or daily life, please talk to your GP or a therapist.
Imposter syndrome meaning
Imposter syndrome, also called the impostor phenomenon or impostorism, describes feeling like an intellectual or professional fraud despite evidence that you're capable. People who experience it often believe their success is down to luck or other people's mistakes, and they worry about being exposed.
Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes described it in 1978, in a paper called The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention. They called it an internal experience of intellectual phoniness. The idea became much more widely known after Clance published a book on the subject in 1985.
Is imposter syndrome a mental health condition?
No. Imposter syndrome isn't a recognised psychiatric disorder, and it doesn't appear in the main diagnostic manuals, the DSM-5 or the ICD-11. That's partly why the original researchers called it a phenomenon rather than a syndrome.
That doesn't mean it isn't real or can't be hard to live with. Research summarised on Wikipedia links it with a higher chance of anxiety and depression, as well as low self-esteem and burnout. Those studies show an association, not cause and effect, but it's a good reason to take persistent self-doubt seriously and to talk to a professional if it's weighing on you.
Common signs of imposter syndrome
- Doubting your skills, talents or achievements, even when others praise them.
- Putting your success down to luck, timing or other outside factors.
- Feeling you don't deserve the success you've had.
- A persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.
- Believing you're less capable than other people think you are.
- Perfectionism, or holding back so you have an excuse if things go wrong.
Research has linked imposter feelings with perfectionism and with self-handicapping, which means quietly setting yourself up with a reason to fall short, such as leaving things to the last minute.
How common imposter syndrome is
Estimates vary widely because researchers measure it in different ways. The Wikipedia summary reports estimates ranging from 9% to 82% depending on the screening method used. Clance and Imes first studied high-achieving women, and later research has looked at many other groups. For example, the same summary reports estimates of 22% to 62% among medical trainees and doctors.
A more recent assessment, described in the same summary, grouped imposter feelings into three factors: doubts about your achievements, a gap between how others see you and how you see yourself, and self-handicapping behaviours.
Imposter syndrome at work and in business
Research summarised on Wikipedia links higher imposter scores with lower job satisfaction and performance, and with more burnout. The table below shows how imposter thinking might sound in everyday business situations, alongside a more balanced way to see the same moment:
| Situation | What the imposter voice says | A more balanced thought |
|---|---|---|
| Winning a new client | They'll realise I'm not that good | They chose me based on what I've already delivered |
| Being praised | They're just being kind | Feedback is information, so I can take it at face value |
| Asking for help | Everyone will see I don't know what I'm doing | Everyone asks questions, and it's how people learn |
| Speaking at an event | Who am I to be up there? | I was invited because people value what I know |
Ways people cope with imposter syndrome
There isn't strong evidence for any single approach. A 2019 systematic review found that none of the 62 studies it looked at had tested whether interventions work. These are the ideas that come up in the research summary, starting with what Clance and Imes themselves used:
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- Talk about it. Clance and Imes worked with groups, where people discovered they weren't alone in feeling this way.
- Keep a record of positive feedback. Writing down praise and results gives you evidence to look back on.
- Challenge the thought. Reframing negative thoughts, as in the table above, was part of their approach.
- Use past achievements as evidence. Look at what you've done, not just how you feel.
- Don't let the feeling make your decisions. You can feel unsure and still say yes to the opportunity.
- Support others. Helping colleagues who feel the same can put your own doubts in perspective.
- Work with a counsellor or therapist. A professional can help you explore where the feelings come from.
Some people also find a simple breathing technique useful in a stressful moment. My guide to box breathing explains the four-step method and its cautions.
When to talk to a GP or therapist about imposter feelings
Self-doubt now and then is part of life. It's worth getting support if it's constant, if it's stopping you from doing things you want to do, or if it comes with low mood, worry or trouble sleeping.
- Your GP can talk through how you're feeling and what help is available.
- You can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression if you're registered with a GP and aged 18 or over, or 16 and over in some areas.
- If you need help urgently, the NHS says to call 111 and select the mental health option. You can call Samaritans on 116 123.
- Call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk.
Writing about confidence and wellbeing
Honest writing about self-doubt helps people realise they're not on their own, and specialists in workplace wellbeing have a lot to add.
If you write about confidence and wellbeing at work, there's a list of mental health publications that take outside articles.
Frequently asked questions
Who came up with the idea of imposter syndrome?
Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes described the impostor phenomenon in a 1978 paper about high-achieving women.
Is imposter syndrome a diagnosis?
No. It isn't a recognised psychiatric disorder and doesn't appear in the DSM-5 or ICD-11. It's still worth speaking to a GP if it affects your wellbeing.
What are the signs of imposter syndrome?
Common signs include doubting your abilities, putting success down to luck, feeling undeserving and fearing you'll be exposed as a fraud.
Can imposter syndrome affect anyone?
The first study looked at high-achieving women, and later research has studied many other groups, including medical trainees and doctors.
How do people deal with imposter syndrome?
Ideas from the research include talking about it, keeping a record of positive feedback, reframing negative thoughts and working with a counsellor or therapist.
