7 factors contributing to Imposter Syndrome

What is The Impostor Syndrome?

The expression first appeared in 1978, in the United States. It was then described as a special form of insecurity that affects successful women in particular. ‘Normal’ insecurity occurs when you have to do something that you have never done before, for example negotiating a contract for your first job, taking your driving test or when you have a date with an unknown but probably very nice person. Then it’s pretty natural to feel a bit insecure.

Imposter syndrome is not inherently more of a problem for women, but it is reported more frequently among women and some marginalised groups. Seven factors can contribute to this phenomenon:

1. Societal Expectations
   Societal norms and stereotypes can lead to women feeling like they need to prove themselves more than men in traditionally male dominated fields. This can create added pressure and self-doubt.

2. Underrepresentation 
   In fields like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), women are often underrepresented. Being part of a minority can make individuals feel like outsiders and like they don’t belong, which contributes to the imposter syndrome.

3. Gender Stereotypes
   If women are stereotypically seen as less capable in certain areas, they may internalise those beliefs and question their abilities. These gender stereotypes can lead to self-doubt. 

4. Lack of Role Models
   A lack of visible female role models in certain fields can make it challenging for women to envision themselves succeeding in those roles, exacerbating imposter feelings.

5. Perfectionism
   Research suggests that women are more likely to be perfectionists, setting exceptionally high standards for themselves. When they inevitably fall short, they may perceive themselves as impostors.

6. Culture and Family
   Cultural and family expectations can also play a role. In some cultures, women are expected to be modest and self-effacing, which can amplify imposter feelings.

7. Physical differences
   Test results show that women tend to score higher on neuroticism. That means that if there is a glimmer of self doubt, for instance: “oh I might not be good enough”, it generally activates a woman’s nervous system more than those of men. Whereas in the male brain, the thought of insecurity is put aside as ‘not interesting’. In the female brain the same thought causes alarm-signals: ‘ it might be true and dangerous’.  

It’s important to note that imposter syndrome affects people of all genders. Many individuals, regardless of gender, experience it at some point in their lives. However, addressing imposter syndrome often involves recognising it and challenging both societal and personal beliefs and expectations that can disproportionately affect certain groups, including women. Promoting diversity and inclusivity in various fields can also help reduce the prevalence of imposter syndrome, which will make individuals from underrepresented groups feel more supported and valued.

The impostor syndrome is a type of insecurity that makes you feel enormously uncertain, while rationally knowing that you can perform the task that you have to do. You feel insecure, while you have every reason to be proud of yourself, of who you are and of what you have achieved, but you still think that you are not good enough. You honestly believe that you fall short in comparison with your peers. You think that your success was caused by all kinds of external factors, instead of claiming this success as your own. You feel as if you don’t really fit into the culture and the organisation where you work. In the worst case, it makes you feel incredibly unhappy. You are so insecure that you don’t really know what your abilities are anymore.

There are many definitions for the expression ‘impostor syndrome’.

This is the way I would like to describe it: 

The impostor syndrome refers to a feeling of cheating; where a person feels like a fraud and considers themselves incompetent, despite the fact that there is objective proof of their competencies, for example in the shape of diplomas or personal achievements. Rationally, you know that you can do it, you even have firm proof of it, but it feels as if you are deceiving everyone.

For the sake of clarity: it doesn’t concern people who are pretending and really cheating. It concerns people who are successful but who themselves believe that they are pretending. They are successful, but they don’t feel it. American research shows that about 70 percent of women suffer from the impostor syndrome, as do 35 percent of men. SheConsult has done research among 600 Dutch men and women. From this research was concluded that half of the men recognise impostor feelings, against three-quarters of the women.

Now, if you have the feeling that this not about you, because you are not successful, then be sure to read on. It has been written especially for people like you. People who have received a good education and work or who have worked in an environment where they function (or functioned) properly. In short, people who don’t consider themselves successful, but who are just that!

As you become more successful and thus have more to lose, the impostor syndrome becomes stronger. It interferes with your career but also your private life. It can even cause a burnout because it can completely overwhelm you.

Vréneli Stadelmaier

Author of Sure SheCan