The Impostor Syndrome — When Achievement Is Not Enough to Feel Legitimate
“Impostor syndrome” (or the impostor phenomenon) refers to a set of thoughts and emotions in which a person, despite real skills and objective competence, feels unworthy of their own success. This phenomenon was first described by Clance & Imes (1978) in a study of high-achieving women, and has since been widely researched in numerous contexts.
When Facts Are Not Enough
Many studies show a discrepancy between actual performance and self-evaluation: people experiencing this phenomenon tend to perceive their achievements as accidental or undeserved, regardless of their true abilities.
More recent work, including a systematic review by Bravata et al. (2019), confirms that these feelings do not reflect objective competence.
Common Manifestations
In scientific literature, impostor syndrome typically appears as:
- minimization of one’s achievements (Clance, 1985)
- persistent self-doubt despite high performance
- heightened perfectionism (Ferrari & Thompson, 2006)
- intensified self-criticism
- fear of being “exposed” as incompetent (Vergauwe et al., 2015)
- hesitation to seize opportunities or, conversely, overinvestment to “compensate”
Why Does This Feeling Appear?
Several factors have been identified:
- Demanding environments: competitive or high-performance contexts increase the likelihood of impostor feelings (Neureiter & Traut-Mattausch, 2016).
- Internal expectations: perfectionism and high self-demands are strongly correlated with this phenomenon.
- Transitions and changes: a new role, expatriation, promotion, or career shift often intensify self-doubt.
- Feeling of minority or mismatch: studies show that perceiving oneself as belonging to a minority group in a given environment can amplify internal doubts.
Possible Consequences
Perceived imposture is not harmless. Research by Bravata et al. (2019) and others highlights frequent associations with:
- increased stress
- higher anxiety
- professional dissatisfaction
- emotional fatigue, and in some cases a risk of burnout
- reduced professional initiative, or conversely, overperformance
This is not merely a temporary lack of confidence, but a psychological dynamic that can significantly affect well-being.
Understanding to Reclaim One’s Legitimacy
Studies indicate that the following approaches are helpful:
- recognizing and naming the phenomenon (Clance, 1985)
- reframing internal expectations with more realistic criteria
- examining the gap between actual performance and personal perception
- reintegrating achievements into a coherent personal narrative
- discussing the phenomenon in a safe environment, reducing isolation and shame (Harvey & Katz, 1985)
Regaining a sense of legitimacy is a process, not an instruction to “be confident.”
Do You Recognize Yourself in This Description?
If you feel concerned, if these doubts take space in your daily life or hold you back in your professional path, talking about it can be helpful.
Do you recognize yourself in this description? Book an appointment now to begin exploring what is happening and move forward at your own pace.
