The imposter's syndrome

Psychological pathology, in which a person can not accept his achievements is a syndrome of an impostor. Consider the causes and symptoms of the phenomenon, the methods of its treatment.

About 70% of people face this pathology, most often it is diagnosed in women. The phenomenon manifests itself in the form of disregard for one's own achievements and successes. A person avoids praise and recognition, reacts painfully to criticism and constantly compares himself with others. For some, the syndrome is a hindrance to normal life and building relationships, while for others it acts as a stimulus for self-improvement and achievement of a new one.

"Pretenders" are confident of their own weakness, explaining their successes this way: it was a simple task, just lucky or it's a lucky coincidence. That is, in any situation, success is due to some event, while the role of one's own labor and efforts is diminished.

If we consider the meaning of the word impostor, it is he who impersonates another. With this complex, there is a diametrically opposite situation, more simply, "impostor on the contrary." Patients are not able to realize their own achievements and positive results. They get the impression that everything they have is received by mistake. Such people live in constant stress, as there is fear of exposure. It seems to the patient that he can make a mistake, and everyone will learn about his incompetence and stupidity. But the greatest fear is that others do not see deception.

Epidemiology

The imposter's syndrome does not have a clear pattern of occurrence. The epidemiology of this disorder is more associated with its causes and provoking factors. According to a recent psychological study, two out of five successful people consider themselves deceivers. At the same time, about 70% of respondents, from time to time, face the imposter's syndrome.

According to the available information, such famous personalities as scientist Albert Einstein, screenwriter Chuck Lori, actor Tommy Cooper, actress Emma Watson and others are familiar with this complex. Some scientists claim that the syndrome is more common among women, while others point to its emotional aspect. That is, under the influence of emotions, for example, when a person feels completely impotent, cognitive indicators deteriorate. This leads to the fact that a sense of social alienation temporarily affects self-perception.

If we consider the demographic aspect of the pathology, then most cases are recorded among African Americans, gifted children and sexual minorities. Because of discrimination, people from visible minorities are more likely to doubt their own abilities. Very often, the phenomenon is observed in students and people in leadership positions.

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Causes of the the syndrome of the impostor

Like most psychological disorders, the causes of the imposter's syndrome must be looked for in childhood. This phenomenon is a reaction to certain patterns of behavior of others and parents. The most common causes of pathology are:

1. Rivalry and inflated demands. Violation can occur in people growing up in families with several children. So, for example, the older child has to compete with the younger for parental attention and love.
2. Mistaken parental perception. Syndrome occurs when parents perceive an adult as he was in childhood. Constant phrases: "you're doing it wrong", "you will not get it," "you do not know how to manage money," and so on, postpone on the subconscious. Even if a person has overcome all of his childhood defects, but his parents see him as a stupid child, then all achievements seem fiction. The patient perceives his success as an illusion and merit of others.
3. Excessive idealization. If a child is often praised for his beauty and mercy, then in adulthood all successes can be perceived not as personal achievements and professionalism, but as what is received by charisma and beauty. In this case, women are more prone to the imposter's syndrome than men. Another option, when a child is touted and promoted for ridiculous acts, because of what the kid begins to consider himself better than others, a genius. Growing up, such people face reality, realizing that they are not as talented as their parents estimated. At this point, there is an awareness and reassessment of their own capabilities and achievements, which are often perceived as self-deception.
4. Perfectionism in everything. Children who grow up in families where parents pay too much attention to the achievements and successes of the child tend to the syndrome. In this case, there is a deficit of parental understanding, acceptance, warmth and care. Emotional trauma, received in childhood, does not give the opportunity to fully appreciate their successes and achievements in adulthood. Such children grow up with insecure workaholics who set themselves unattainable goals and constantly torment themselves due to failures.
5. Cultural installations. This factor most often affects women. This is due to the established in the society of the foundations. That is, a woman should be modest and has no right to declare her success. This causes a feeling of worthlessness in front of men. But this cultural stereotype can arise in men. The disorder is associated with the traditional representation of masculinity. That is, a man has no right to talk about his own failures, feelings or vulnerabilities.

Based on the above-described reasons, it can be concluded that the imposter syndrome is part of the personality structure of the neurotic spectrum. Most often, it arises in people who are unsure of their abilities and knowledge. This provokes the desire to hide their feelings, hiding under the mask of "impostor" and afraid of exposure.

Risk factors

Many successful people in life experience certain psychological experiences caused by a reassessment of their own strengths and capabilities. The phenomenon has received the name - a syndrome of the impostor. The risk factors for this disorder are related to the period of the formation of the personality, that is, childhood, namely, the family and the environment.

Very often, those who grew up in poor or dysfunctional families face the disorder. Such people have grown up according to the model grafted by their parents: to live poorly, to work in low-paid jobs, not to claim the best. Reaching career heights, a person begins to feel out of place.

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Pathogenesis

The mechanism of the inception and development of the inability to internalize one's achievements is related to such factors as:

• Mental and physical conditions caused by psycho-traumatic events.
• Personal features.
• Unfavorable family and other social factors.
• Hereditary predisposition to psychological disorders.
• Various neurodynamic changes.

The pathogenesis of the imposter's syndrome is associated with cognitive distortion. Its essence lies in the inability to properly assess their abilities and qualifications. Frequent mistakes in the past and the negative impact of others lead to understatement of their abilities, and sometimes rights.

Symptoms of the the syndrome of the impostor

Psychosomatic symptoms of the imposter's syndrome are conventionally divided into the following categories:

• Feeling like a pretender.

It seems that all achievements are not deserved, and professional successes are erroneous. As a rule, impostors live with fears of exposure, for example, that colleagues or bosses will understand the level of his incompetence. Fear of exposure greatly increases the fear of failure and the fear of success. Achieving any goals is perceived as a great responsibility.

• Explain your success with luck or external causes.

People perceive their achievements not as a result of long-term work, but as luck. Very often a woman explains her career progress not with her own professionalism and knowledge, but with a pretty appearance and other factors.

• Depreciation of own successes.

All achievements are perceived as not deserving of attention. The imposter believes that success has been achieved too easily. Such people can not normally take praise and compliments.

All of the above symptoms require more detailed diagnosis. In this case, the imposter's syndrome is not an absolute diagnosis, since some people may experience certain symptoms, but not feel others.

First signs

Psychologist Gale Matthews created a test questionnaire, which allows to reveal the first signs of the pretender syndrome. According to the researches of the scientist, the majority of successful people admitted that they felt themselves to be an impostor at this or that period of their life.

To identify the first signs of frustration, it is enough to answer such questions:

• You think that your success is connected with error, coincidence or luck.
• You agree with the statement: "if it can be me, then anyone else is capable of it."
• Minor defects or dislocations in work cause feelings of guilt and suffering.
• Constructive criticism causes a feeling of own unfitness and depression.
• Any success makes one feel guilty and creates the impression of deception of others.
• You are constantly feeling the fear of "exposure" and think this is a matter of time.

A positive response to any of the above statements is the first symptom of cognitive distortion. But his main feature is that he suffers from successful people who can not accept their achievements. This is due to the fact that the problem of transforming one's competence into an inner feeling is broken.

Stages

Like any neurotic disorder, the imposter's syndrome has certain stages. To identify the severity of the violation, it is necessary to answer such questions:

1. I very often throw the started gave, even if they are successful and promising.
2. If to me in something carries, in the future it entails trouble and a band of failures.
3. I always lack something to achieve my goals and success.
4. When I'm all right, problems arise with my family and friends.
5. I try not to take unnecessary responsibility to not reassure others.
6. I think more about avoiding failure than about achieving positive results.
7. I'm not trying to be successful and do not boast about my skills.
8. It is important for me to manage my time on my own.
9. I try not to make serious decisions, especially if they can have irreversible consequences.
10. Praise and compliments from outsiders cause a feeling of awkwardness, fear and shame.
11. In childhood, they treated me very demanding.
12. As soon as I achieve personal or professional success, I spoil everything myself.
13. I agree with the statement that it is better to live in peace, avoiding change and not attracting attention.
14. Sometimes I have a desire to change something in my life, as a rule, to the diametrically opposite.
15. Success causes me to lose interest in life, depression, anguish. It creates a feeling of routine.

If you have 3 to 5 positive answers, then this is the initial stage, which is easily amenable to correction. 5-7 statements - the fear of success has a significant negative impact on your life and professional activity. 7 or more affirmative answers, indicate a serious psychological pathology, for the treatment of which it is necessary to consult a therapist.

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Forms

The imposter syndrome has several stages and species that determine the symptomatology of the pathological condition and the possibility of its correction. Consider the main types of neurotic disorder:

• Professional incompetence

In any field of activity, the level of competence is particularly important. To assess career growth, the principle of Peter is used, according to which in the hierarchical system each worker can not rise above his level of competence. That is, any person will go on the career ladder until he takes a place on which he can not cope with his duties. But with the syndrome of the pretender this theory is violated, because even professionally savvy people lose their competence due to internal discomfort and can not move in a hierarchical system.

• Communicative incompetence

This type of disorder indicates inability to build relationships with other people. There are many reasons for this incompetence. Most often, it is associated with imposed stereotypes, that is, incorrect judgments about certain situations or people. This leads to misunderstanding of others and others. Violation may be due to a prejudiced attitude towards oneself and a tendency to reject anything new or unusual. In most cases, these factors lead to the impossibility of normal contact with people. This negatively affects professional activity and personal life.

• Emotional pretense

This type of syndrome is associated with the lack of skills or their low level of development in managing emotions. This leads to the fact that any interactions with other people are carried out without an emotional context. One example is anger, tears, or laughter inappropriate situations for these emotions.

Complications and consequences

The imposter's syndrome, like any other neurotic disorder, can cause serious consequences and complications. The first thing that people face with the fear of success is perfectionism. They are trying to do something that is beyond their strengths and abilities, so that no one doubts competence. Even when they are overwhelmed with work, they do not delegate some of their powers to others because of fear that someone will doubt their knowledge and skills.

Such "impostors" become real dictators in the collective. They work hard, but mistakes, both their own and those around them, are unacceptable. People rush from the extreme to the extreme, often change the line of their behavior. Such destructive behavior leads to self-destruction of the person. Loss of motivation, guilt, prejudiced attitudes to own successes and a pronounced negative attitude are actions that are deliberately aimed at failure.

Despite the possible negative consequences, the syndrome has a number of advantages. Thus, people who have encountered a disorder intend to use it to achieve tangible success in this or that sphere. For others, the benefit of the disorder is better socialization in society. They do not boast of their own achievements, but rather they underestimate their success. This does not provoke hostility or envy among others, but on the contrary causes a feeling of pity. But, despite this, the pretender syndrome is a serious brake on achievement of the put purposes and development of the person.

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Diagnostics of the the syndrome of the impostor

As a rule, cognitive impairment has no external manifestations. Diagnosis of the imposter's syndrome is aimed at identifying internal problems with inadequate self-esteem. People with this disorder do not stand out among others, so those around you are surprised to learn about a similar problem.

To identify the disorder using special tests and questionnaires, consider one of them. You have a fear of success if you agree with most of the statements:

• Any criticism, including constructive, causes feelings of resentment.
• You are afraid that people can learn about your gaps in knowledge and faults.
• You are afraid to take responsibility and new responsibilities.
• It seems to you that you do not know and understand too much, unlike those around you.
• You perceive all your merits and achievements as luck, not the cause of your knowledge and efforts.
• It seems to you that you do not know how to do anything and pretend to be a professional.
• Very often you catch yourself thinking that others are much more talented and more capable than you.
• You compare yourself with others, but not in your favor.
• You analyze your failures for a long time, but do not pay attention to achievements.

The imposter's syndrome is diagnosed as a problem with the transformation of one's own competence into an inner sensation. The presence of real achievements and successes is not perceived emotionally. The psychotherapist is engaged in diagnostics and correction of this condition.

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Differential diagnosis

Many neurological disorders have similar symptoms, which is why differential diagnosis is used to recognize them. The imposter's syndrome is not determined by behavioral symptoms or symptoms, as it is characterized by inner experiences and fears that impede personal growth and normal life.

Psychological pathology is differentiated with various personal and dissocial disorders and dysfunctions. The whole complexity of the diagnosis lies in the fact that it is necessary to determine the root cause and the period of appearance of the disturbance. It is very important to correctly assess the factors provoking the disorder and the degree of its severity. It is also necessary to clearly delineate the norm and deviations.

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Treatment of the the syndrome of the impostor

Cognitive distortions impose a negative imprint on the quality of life, therefore require correction. Treatment of the imposter's syndrome is aimed at mitigating and compensating for its negative manifestations, reducing the level of anxiety and fear of success.

To eliminate the pathological condition, the following methods are recommended:

• Concentrate on work or study. It is necessary to focus on the process, not on results. If you have fears of your own incompetence or it seems that you are not smart enough and educated, then you can sign up for all kinds of courses or trainings for personal growth. They will help to appreciate their own capabilities. And do not forget that only those who do nothing do not make mistakes.
• Do not strive for perfection. The rating "good enough" is much better than "excellent". Do not idealize yourself. It is necessary to understand that even the most talented, smart and successful people perform routine work and can make mistakes.
• Expose yourself. Share your experiences with loved ones or consult a psychologist. Do not keep all fears in yourself, do not engage in self-destruction.

In severe forms of the disorder, medication with antidepressants may be prescribed. But in most cases, significant results can be achieved with the help of psychological and social therapy.

Prevention

Methods of preventing a personality disorder, which is characterized by a fear of success, are aimed at correcting self-perception. Prevention is to reduce the intensity of experiences and the recognition of their fears. It is necessary to understand the causes of the problem, that is, that or who caused uncertainty in their own strengths and achievements. Try to objectively evaluate your own achievements and contribution to the common cause.

Do not take on all the criticisms, not all of them are objective and have the right to exist. Do not forget that without errors there can be no success. Write down on your paper all your achievements and advantages in a particular case. Regularly re-read this list, it should cause a sense of pride. Another reliable way of preventing the syndrome of the impostor is timely psychotherapy. The doctor will help cope with the neurotic disorder and its destructive effect.

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Forecast

The imposter's syndrome requires a long and complex treatment. The prognosis depends on timely diagnosis and selected therapies. Particular emphasis is placed on psychotherapy, which will change the tactics of self-condemnation and soberly assess their achievements and successes. The started stages of the disorder are characterized by self-destruction of the person and antisocial behavior. Their forecast in most cases is negative.