Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their own accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. People with imposter syndrome often feel like they don’t deserve their success and that they are just “faking it” or “getting lucky.” They may have a hard time internalizing their achievements, despite external evidence of their competence or expertise.

It can manifest in different ways depending on the individual, but some common symptoms include:

• Feeling like a fraud or impostor
• Doubting one’s own abilities
• Downplaying or dismissing one’s accomplishments
• Feeling anxious or stressed about being “found out”
• Comparing oneself to others and feeling inferior
• Feeling like success is due to luck or timing, rather than personal effort or skill

Although I generally avoid labelling a certain condition, we do know that imposter syndrome is real and it does have an impact on people. It tends to limit capability through self doubt. It can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender, or background. It is especially common among high-achieving individuals, such as academics, artists, or entrepreneurs. However, it can also be experienced in other contexts, such as in the workplace or in personal relationships.

There are 5 accepted types of imposters syndrome.

It is important to note that imposter syndrome is not a diagnosis and can affect people in different ways. If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, it is important to seek support from a mental health professional.

The Perfectionist

They need everything to be perfect or they feel like a failure. No matter how hard they work, they feel like they need it to be perfect.

Perfectionism and imposter syndrome are both common experiences that many people encounter. Perfectionists often hold themselves to extremely high standards and can feel like they are not good enough if they don’t meet those standards. Imposter syndrome, on the other hand, is the feeling that one is not competent or deserving of their accomplishments despite evidence to the contrary.

When perfectionism and imposter syndrome are present together, it can create a challenging internal experience for individuals. Here are some traits that may be present in a perfectionist who is experiencing imposter syndrome:

1. Self-doubt: Perfectionists with imposter syndrome may doubt their abilities and feel like they are not good enough, despite evidence to the contrary.
2. Fear of failure: Perfectionists often fear failure and may believe that any mistake is a sign of personal failure. This can contribute to feelings of imposter syndrome because they may feel like they are not good enough to succeed.
3. Need for validation: Perfectionists with imposter syndrome may constantly seek validation from others to confirm their worth or achievements, as they struggle to see their own value.
4. Overworking: Perfectionists with imposter syndrome may overwork themselves in an attempt to prove their worth or avoid failure.
5. Difficulty accepting praise: Perfectionists may struggle to accept compliments or praise for their work, as they may feel that they haven’t truly earned it or that they are not deserving of the recognition.
6. Negative self-talk: Perfectionists with imposter syndrome may engage in negative self-talk and believe that they are not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough to succeed.

It’s important to note that not everyone who is a perfectionist experiences imposter syndrome, and not everyone who experiences imposter syndrome is a perfectionist. However, if you can relate to some or all of these traits, it may be helpful to explore these experiences with a therapist or mental health professional.

The Natural Genius

Because you have spent a lot of time picking up skills with very little effort, you assume that all competent people can do the same thing so there is nothing special about you. When something doesn’t come easy to you, you will feel ashamed.

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals doubt their skills, accomplishments, and abilities despite evidence to the contrary. Natural geniuses are individuals who possess exceptional abilities in a particular field without having to work as hard as others to achieve the same level of proficiency.

Some traits of natural geniuses who may experience imposter syndrome include:

1. High expectations of themselves: Natural geniuses often set high standards for themselves and feel that anything less than perfection is a failure.
2. Difficulty accepting compliments: They may have difficulty accepting compliments or positive feedback, feeling that they don’t deserve it.
3. Fear of failure: Despite their talent, natural geniuses may still fear failure and worry about not living up to expectations.
4. Constantly seeking validation: They may seek constant validation and reassurance from others, as they don’t trust their own abilities.
5. Comparing themselves to others: They may constantly compare themselves to others who they feel are more accomplished, which can exacerbate feelings of self-doubt.
6. Difficulty internalizing success: Even when they achieve success, natural geniuses may struggle to internalize it and may attribute it to luck or external factors rather than their own abilities.
7. Feeling like a fraud: Natural geniuses may feel like they are frauds or imposters, despite their achievements and talent.

It’s important to note that imposter syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of their abilities or level of success. If you or someone you know is experiencing imposter syndrome, it’s important to seek support from a mental health professional or trusted friend or family member.

The Soloist

You believe that you can handle everything by yourself. When this proves to be false, you feel that you are not worthy or are a failure.

“The Soloist” is a book and movie about the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a talented musician who struggles with mental illness and homelessness. While Nathaniel Ayers may exhibit traits of imposter syndrome in some aspects of his life, it is important to note that imposter syndrome is not a mental illness but rather a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and feel like a fraud despite evidence of their abilities.

That being said, here are some traits that Nathaniel Ayers exhibits in “The Soloist” that could be indicative of imposter syndrome:

1. Self-doubt: Nathaniel often expresses doubt in his ability to perform music, even though he is a highly skilled musician. He fears that he is not good enough and that people will discover that he is a fraud.
2. Perfectionism: Nathaniel is highly critical of his own performances and often feels like he has failed when he makes even minor mistakes. This can be a common trait among people with imposter syndrome, as they set high standards for themselves that are often impossible to meet.
3. Discomfort with praise: Nathaniel often deflects compliments and praise, and may even feel uncomfortable when people acknowledge his talent. This is common among people with imposter syndrome who feel like they don’t deserve recognition for their accomplishments.
4. Fear of failure: Nathaniel is afraid of failure and often avoids situations where he might not perform perfectly. This can be another common trait among people with imposter syndrome, as they may feel like any mistake will prove that they are not actually competent.

The Expert

Before you have a chance to consider your work a success, you need to learn absolutely everything about the topic. If you do not have all the answers, you feel like a fraud.

Here are some traits of an expert who may be experiencing imposter syndrome:

1. Perfectionism: Experts with imposter syndrome may feel like they need to be perfect in everything they do, leading them to put excessive pressure on themselves and be overly critical of their work.
2. Overpreparation: Experts with imposter syndrome may spend an excessive amount of time preparing for tasks and may feel like they are never fully prepared, even though they may have a wealth of knowledge on the subject.
3. Fear of failure: Experts with imposter syndrome may fear failure, which can lead to procrastination and avoidance of tasks, despite their level of expertise.
4. Discounting achievements: Experts with imposter syndrome may downplay their accomplishments and attribute their successes to luck or external factors, rather than acknowledging their own skills and expertise.
5. Need for validation: Experts with imposter syndrome may seek validation and approval from others, as they may not feel confident in their own abilities.
6. Comparison to others: Experts with imposter syndrome may constantly compare themselves to others, feeling like they don’t measure up to their peers, even if they have more knowledge and experience.

It’s important to note that imposter syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of their level of expertise, and seeking support from others and acknowledging one’s own accomplishments can help alleviate these feelings of inadequacy.

The Superhero

You link competence in how well you can succeed in all the roles you hold. Failing to navigate the demands of all these challenging roles can leave you feeling like a failure.

When it comes to superheroes, imposter syndrome can manifest in a number of ways, but some possible traits that a superhero might exhibit include:

1. Doubting their abilities: A superhero with imposter syndrome may doubt their own powers or feel that they are not good enough to be a hero.
2. Comparing themselves to others: They may constantly compare themselves to other superheroes or to their own ideals and feel that they fall short.
3. Feeling like a fraud: They may feel like they don’t deserve the recognition or praise they receive and that they are just pretending to be a hero.
4. Fear of failure: They may be afraid of failing or making mistakes and worry that this will expose them as a fraud.
5. Constantly seeking validation: They may seek constant validation from others to reassure themselves that they are a real superhero.
6. Overworking themselves: They may feel like they need to work harder than anyone else to prove themselves and may push themselves too hard as a result.
7. Hiding their true selves: They may feel like they need to hide their true selves or their weaknesses in order to maintain their superhero persona and avoid being exposed as a fraud.

Overall, a superhero with imposter syndrome may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt despite their heroic deeds and accomplishments.