Imposter syndrome is a myth. Well, mostly anyway. We'll unpack this concept of imposter syndrome, or rather, imposter phenomenon, emphasizing that the common perception of it as a 'syndrome' is misleading. In this first part of our two-part series, you'll get a historical overview of this phenomenon, which starts with the work of Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes' research in the 1970s. Most importantly, we'll bust some myths around the "who" and "why" of this phenomenon, hitting on the facts that imposter feelings are universal and not solely linked to self-esteem or specific demographics. The takeaway is this: if we want to address our imposter feelings, we need to look at them more holistically and consider evidence-based strategies to reduce them. Those practical steps will be explored in part 2 of this series.

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community!
• Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. Access here.
• Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (1993). The imposter phenomenon: Recent research findings regarding dynamics, personality and family patterns and their implications for treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 30(3), 495–501. Access here.
• Tran, N. (2023). From imposter phenomenon to infiltrator experience: Decolonizing the mind to claim space and reclaim self. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 29(2), 184–193. Access here.
• Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender.
• Where to shop:
• • Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free.
  • Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies.
• Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
• Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org.

Full transcript

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.