What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? - Elizabeth Cox

00:04:19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQUxL4Jm1Lo

Zusammenfassung

TLDRThe content discusses imposter syndrome, a feeling of self-doubt experienced by highly accomplished individuals like Maya Angelou and Albert Einstein. Psychologist Pauline Rose Clance's research identifies this phenomenon, which affects people across various demographics. Key factors include self-perception and pluralistic ignorance. Combatting imposter syndrome involves open conversations and acknowledging one's skills. The text emphasizes that while feelings of fraudulence may persist, recognizing one's talent and belonging is essential.

Mitbringsel

  • 🌟 Many accomplished individuals experience feelings of fraudulence.
  • 💡 Imposter syndrome affects a wide demographic, not just a few.
  • 📚 Pauline Rose Clance was the pioneer in studying this phenomenon.
  • 🙌 Open conversations about imposter syndrome can alleviate feelings of self-doubt.
  • 🗣️ Sharing experiences with mentors can help normalize these feelings.
  • 🔍 Recognizing one's achievements is crucial to combating imposter feelings.
  • 💪 Everyone deserves to acknowledge their talents and capabilities.
  • 📊 Pluralistic ignorance contributes to feelings of isolation in self-doubt.
  • 🔁 Revisiting positive feedback helps build confidence.
  • ✊ You are capable, talented, and belong in your field.

Zeitleiste

  • 00:00:00 - 00:04:19

    The text discusses feelings of fraudulence experienced by high achievers like Maya Angelou and Albert Einstein, known as imposter syndrome. These feelings are common and not limited to any particular group, affecting individuals across various demographics. Psychologist Pauline Rose Clance was the first to study this phenomenon, initially focusing on female college students. She found that many individuals, despite having high qualifications, felt their successes were unearned. The sentiment of imposterism is linked to pluralistic ignorance, where people doubt their abilities in silence while believing others do not share these feelings. This can lead to reluctance in sharing ideas or pursuing opportunities. To combat imposter syndrome, open discussions about these feelings are encouraged. Hearing that others, including mentors and peers, experience similar doubts can provide relief. Additionally, documenting achievements and confronting negative thoughts with evidence can help individuals recognize their competence and build confidence. Ultimately, the text reinforces the message that everyone has talent, is capable, and deserves to belong.

Mind Map

Video-Fragen und Antworten

  • What is imposter syndrome?

    Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud.

  • Who first studied imposter syndrome?

    Psychologist Pauline Rose Clance was the first to study imposter syndrome.

  • What groups are affected by imposter syndrome?

    Imposter syndrome can affect individuals across gender, race, age, and various occupations.

  • How can people combat imposter syndrome?

    Talking about feelings of imposterism and revisiting positive feedback can help combat imposter syndrome.

  • Is imposter syndrome a mental illness?

    No, imposter syndrome is not classified as a mental illness; it's a common experience.

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Automatisches Blättern:
  • 00:00:09
    Even after writing eleven books and winning several prestigious awards,
  • 00:00:13
    Maya Angelou couldn’t escape the nagging doubt
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    that she hadn’t really earned her accomplishments.
  • 00:00:19
    Albert Einstein experienced something similar:
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    he described himself as an “involuntary swindler”
  • 00:00:25
    whose work didn’t deserve as much attention as it had received.
  • 00:00:29
    Accomplishments at the level of Angelou’s or Einstein’s are rare,
  • 00:00:33
    but their feeling of fraudulence is extremely common.
  • 00:00:36
    Why can’t so many of us shake feelings
  • 00:00:38
    that we haven’t earned our accomplishments,
  • 00:00:40
    or that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention?
  • 00:00:45
    Psychologist Pauline Rose Clance was the first to study
  • 00:00:48
    this unwarranted sense of insecurity.
  • 00:00:50
    In her work as a therapist,
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    she noticed many of her undergraduate patients shared a concern:
  • 00:00:56
    though they had high grades,
  • 00:00:58
    they didn’t believe they deserved their spots at the university.
  • 00:01:01
    Some even believed their acceptance had been an admissions error.
  • 00:01:05
    While Clance knew these fears were unfounded,
  • 00:01:07
    she could also remember feeling the exact same way in graduate school.
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    She and her patients experienced something that goes by a number of names--
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    imposter phenomenon,
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    imposter experience,
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    and imposter syndrome.
  • 00:01:19
    Together with colleague Suzanne Imes,
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    Clance first studied imposterism in female college students and faculty.
  • 00:01:26
    Their work established pervasive feelings of fraudulence in this group.
  • 00:01:30
    Since that first study,
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    the same thing has been established across gender,
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    race,
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    age,
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    and a huge range of occupations,
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    though it may be more prevalent and disproportionately affect
  • 00:01:41
    the experiences of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
  • 00:01:44
    To call it a syndrome is to downplay how universal it is.
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    It's not a disease or an abnormality,
  • 00:01:51
    and it isn’t necessarily tied to depression,
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    anxiety,
  • 00:01:54
    or self-esteem.
  • 00:01:56
    Where do these feelings of fraudulence come from?
  • 00:01:58
    People who are highly skilled or accomplished
  • 00:02:01
    tend to think others are just as skilled.
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    This can spiral into feelings that they don’t deserve accolades
  • 00:02:06
    and opportunities over other people.
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    And as Angelou and Einstein experienced,
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    there’s often no threshold of accomplishment
  • 00:02:13
    that puts these feelings to rest.
  • 00:02:15
    Feelings of imposterism aren’t restricted to highly skilled individuals, either.
  • 00:02:20
    Everyone is susceptible to a phenomenon known as pluralistic ignorance,
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    where we each doubt ourselves privately,
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    but believe we’re alone in thinking that way
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    because no one else voices their doubts.
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    Since it’s tough to really know how hard our peers work,
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    how difficult they find certain tasks,
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    or how much they doubt themselves,
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    there’s no easy way to dismiss feelings that we’re less capable
  • 00:02:42
    than the people around us.
  • 00:02:44
    Intense feelings of imposterism
  • 00:02:46
    can prevent people from sharing their great ideas
  • 00:02:48
    or applying for jobs and programs where they’d excel.
  • 00:02:52
    At least so far,
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    the most surefire way to combat imposter syndrome
  • 00:02:56
    is to talk about it.
  • 00:02:58
    Many people suffering from imposter syndrome
  • 00:03:00
    are afraid that if they ask about their performance,
  • 00:03:02
    their fears will be confirmed.
  • 00:03:04
    And even when they receive positive feedback,
  • 00:03:06
    it often fails to ease feelings of fraudulence.
  • 00:03:09
    But on the other hand,
  • 00:03:10
    hearing that an advisor or mentor has experienced feelings of imposterism
  • 00:03:14
    can help relieve those feelings.
  • 00:03:16
    The same goes for peers.
  • 00:03:18
    Even simply finding out there’s a term for these feelings
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    can be an incredible relief.
  • 00:03:22
    Once you’re aware of the phenomenon,
  • 00:03:24
    you can combat your own imposter syndrome
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    by collecting and revisiting positive feedback.
  • 00:03:29
    One scientist who kept blaming herself for problems in her lab
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    started to document the causes every time something went wrong.
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    Eventually, she realized most of the problems
  • 00:03:38
    came from equipment failure,
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    and came to recognize her own competence.
  • 00:03:42
    We may never be able to banish these feelings entirely,
  • 00:03:45
    but we can have open conversations about academic or professional challenges.
  • 00:03:49
    With increasing awareness of how common these experiences are,
  • 00:03:53
    perhaps we can feel freer to be frank about our feelings
  • 00:03:56
    and build confidence in some simple truths:
  • 00:03:58
    you have talent,
  • 00:04:00
    you are capable,
  • 00:04:01
    and you belong.
Tags
  • imposter syndrome
  • self-doubt
  • Maya Angelou
  • Albert Einstein
  • psychology
  • Pauline Rose Clance
  • accomplishments
  • pluralistic ignorance
  • mental health
  • self-confidence