Mental Health 5 min read

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome involves persistent feelings of inadequacy and fear of being exposed as a "fraud" despite evidence of competence and achievement.

Why high achievers doubt themselves

Imposter syndrome, identified by psychologists Clance and Imes, often affects high achievers who attribute success to external factors while attributing failures internally. The Dunning-Kruger effect's inverse means competent people recognize what they don't know, increasing doubt.

Research shows imposter syndrome correlates with anxiety, depression, and self-sabotage. Early intervention during adolescence can prevent these patterns from solidifying into adult self-concept.

Clance and Imes (1978) found that 70% of high achievers experience imposter syndrome at some point. Sakulku and Alexander (2011) demonstrated that imposter feelings peak during transitions to new academic or professional environments, making adolescence a critical intervention period.

You're not alone

If your accomplished teen insists they're "not really smart" or fears everyone will realize they "don't belong," imposter syndrome is present. Many parents feel confused when successful teens can't see their own abilities. The more teens achieve, the more they may fear exposure. Families addressing imposter syndrome report improved teen confidence and reduced anxiety about performance.

What it looks like day to day

Student

Your teen gets accepted to honors classes but insists it was a mistake and they won't be able to keep up.

Parent

You celebrate your teen's achievement only to hear "I just got lucky" or "The test was easy" rather than accepting earned success.

Tiny steps to try

Address imposter syndrome through evidence and reframing.

1

Success documentation

Keep concrete records of achievements. Written evidence counters distorted self-perception.
2

Attribution retraining

Challenge luck-based explanations. "What actions led to this outcome?" builds ownership.
3

Normalize struggle

Share that everyone feels inadequate sometimes. Feeling challenged doesn't mean not belonging.
4

Comparison awareness

Highlight that everyone curates what others see. [Internal experience differs from external appearance](/the-parent-bit/deep-play-helps-teenagers-learn).
5

Growth mindset cultivation

Frame abilities as developing rather than fixed. Current struggles don't define permanent capacity.

Why imposter syndrome affects high-achieving teens

Paradoxically, successful teens often experience the strongest imposter syndrome, attributing achievements to luck while internalizing failures as proof of inadequacy.

Imposter syndrome patterns:
• Dismissing accomplishments as flukes
• Fear others will discover incompetence
• Overworking to compensate for perceived deficits
• Inability to internalize success
• Comparing insider knowledge to others' highlight reels
• Perfectionism masking insecurity

These feelings persist despite external validation and success.

References

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.

Sakulku, J., & Alexander, J. (2011). The impostor phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science, 6(1), 73-92.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is imposter syndrome just low self-esteem?

While related, they differ. Low self-esteem involves global negative self-view. Imposter syndrome specifically involves fear of exposure despite achievement. Someone might have high self-esteem in some areas while experiencing imposter syndrome in others. Imposter syndrome often affects confident people entering new challenging environments.

Should we stop praising to avoid pressure?

Don't stop praising, but change how. Focus on process and effort rather than identity or comparison. "Your study strategy worked well" beats "You're so smart." Help them internalize that success comes from actions they control, not innate traits they might lose or never really had.