Imposter Syndrome

Do you ever feel like an Impasta?

Since you're not made out of flour and water, I would hope not! But if you or someone you know ever experiences feelings of "phoniness" or feels that you are not intelligent, capable, or creative despite having evidence that proves otherwise, you or they could be experiencing Imposter Syndrome

Read how many graduate students question their capabilities and how to overcome those imposter syndrome thoughts

What is Imposter Syndrome?

While it might sound like a big, scary word, it is simply the term used to describe the common psychological pattern where an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud" or as someone who "doesn't belong."

What are the features of IMPOSTER SYNDROME?

Persistent belief that you've fooled people into thinking you're more competent and talented than you actually are. Persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud."

See yourself as undeserving of the opportunities you have earned

Inability to internalize your success as caused by your own skill and effort (e,g., think that it's just luck that you got into UCSB)

How to tell if you might be suffering from Imposter Syndrome

Check out this article about how to combat Imposter Syndrome

How to Cope with Imposter Syndrome

Learning how to cope with Imposter Syndrome can be tricky, but with the help of a few tips, you can be well on your way to overcoming the negative thoughts that come to mind when you think of your accomplishments and talents.

Learning how to learn

No one learned their ABCs, how to ride a bike, or how to cook a perfect meal in a day. Learning how to do school is the same.

Students often expect that they are going to master the art of schooling right from the start. They expect that they "should" know how to do everything. And with effort, A's will inevitably follow. However, many students find that college is much harder than they expected. They get back lower grades than they anticipated and are quick to see their grade as a reflection of their overall ability ("I'm stupid", "I'm a failure", "I don't belong in college") rather than a reflection of what they need to work on to hone their skills.

One of the most important things to remember is that learning and growth require stretching your current abilities, feeling uncomfortable, and even stumbling a bit. Mastering the subjects that you are studying will take time, energy, and persistence. And building strength in your academic muscles comes from finding out what you don't understand and what skills need some extra attention to develop. Check out this article to shift your thinking from focusing on success vs. failure to focusing on the learning process. This will help you to feel less like an imposter and recognize that everyone else is in the same boat

Click here to read this article

Even after writing eleven books and winning several awards, Maya Angelou couldn’t escape the doubt that she hadn’t earned her accomplishments. This feeling of fraudulence is extremely common. Why can’t so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention? Elizabeth Cox describes the psychology behind impostor syndrome and what you can do to combat it.

When faced with a big challenge where potential failure seems to lurk at every corner, you’ve probably heard the advice, “Be more confident!” But where does confidence come from, and how can you get more of it? Here are three easy tips to boost your confidence.