“Impostor, impostor” (RAE): (person) who pretends to be another person or something he or she is not.
He ““imposter syndrome” It was first described by Dr. Pauline Clance, and encompasses the feelings of people who feel that they are a fraud and that they do not deserve the achievements or positions they occupy in the world of work. Anguish, depression and maladaptive behaviors are the consequences that experiencing these sensations can bring. Research conducted in the early 1980s estimated that two in five successful people consider themselves frauds, and other studies have found that 70% of people feel like impostors at one time or another.
And you? Have you felt similarly at any point in your life? What factors could be involved in causing this situation to occur?
From a clinical point of view, analyze the selfconcept of the person is key to understanding how their internal experience is being (unique in each individual, regardless of whether they fit the criteria of this syndrome in question). What expectations related to adequate job performance does the person have? How does she conceive herself in relation to these? What things do you value and appreciate about her self? How do you experience what you don’t appreciate about yourself? Assess with a psychology professional how these questions come into play in distressing situations, seeing if it is adaptive for the situation in the first instance; and softening those limiting and/or harmful internal beliefs for the person in second; It helps the person feel more comfortable with the situation.
On the other hand, we must not lose sight of the contextual framework that we have in the 21st century. We live in a time in which access to information and knowledge is constantly at our fingertips, just a click away. People have the possibility of being experts in one or more topics more easily than in the past; At the same time, the rate of higher and/or postgraduate studies has increased in the last two decades. Exists more competition, and not always more jobs. Very easily we can come into contact with the feeling that we have to give the best of ourselves to measure up, in order to continue in the arena or even in some cases, deserve to be in it. Being focused on personal growth is adaptive and motivating to adequately carry out our professional activity; 2 but you have to be careful when the desire for improvement and growth becomes a self-demanding and perfectionist path. It is important to be able to observe the situation with perspective so as not to fall into this type of dynamic that is so common in imposter syndrome. This perspective consists of taking a realistic view of the situation, demystifying the supposed exquisite knowledge that we must possess, or that others possess, and becoming aware of what we are achieving and/or doing adequately. It is not about being at the top, nor about comparing ourselves with the rest, nor about feeling that we are in a place that does not belong to us; but to try to be useful and trust the decisions that have taken you to where you are today.
Connect with the part of you that doesn’t feel like an imposter, who knows the effort, experience, studies behind you. That tells you? How does it feel to hear that it is a fraud? Do you feel it’s fair? I invite you to reflect on how you are now and what you want to do with it. Do you feel like integrating some changes?
Author: