Imposter syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological occurrence in which people doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as frauds. It is the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways. Imposter syndrome can affect both men and women equally, and it often results in people feeling like "a fraud" or "a phony" and doubting their abilities.
Imposter syndrome can stem from and result in strained personal relationships and can hinder individuals from achieving their full potential in their fields of interest. It can be caused by a combination of factors, including family environment, personality traits, and workplace culture. Although it can drag at a persons mental health, imposter syndrome isn’t an official psychological condition.
Imposter syndrome is a commonly reported and experienced phenomenon that affects high-functioning, high-achieving individuals, particularly in medicine and healthcare. Due to the many potential detrimental effects of this syndrome on these individuals, in addition to the multiple associated co-morbidities, including depression, anxiety, and other behavioral health issues, the identification, and treatment of those affected with this syndrome are imperative.
It is important to note that imposter syndrome is not exclusive to women, despite being first observed in professional women. The impact of systemic racism, classism, xenophobia, and other biases was categorically absent when the concept of imposter syndrome was developed, and many groups were excluded from the study, namely women of color and people of various income levels, genders, and professional backgrounds.
