Imposter Syndrome: Do you sometimes feeling like a fraud?

 

One behaviour people experience from one time or another is being an imposter; the feeling that they might get ‘caught’ out for not being as good at what they do as people assume they are.

Imposter syndrome is where an individual doubts their accomplishments and abilities and these are converted into a fear of being exposed as a fraud. Interestingly, this still happens when there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. 

What do you attribute your successes to?

Unjustified feelings of being an imposter are an attribution bias. It is a tendency to attribute successes to luck or poor judgment on the part of others’. In a self-deprecating way, the assumption is that they are ‘just getting by’ and if others saw the real them then they would less than impressed.

When we feel this kind of imposter syndrome, we failing to have any internal acknowledgment of our own achievements, something which is characteristic of those suffering from anxiety, and unsurprisingly, low self-esteem.

Of course, this makes it difficult for the individual to be accepting of compliments or to sell themselves well, whether at work or in their social life.

An Imposter Cycle

Researchers (Sakulku and Alexander, 2011) described an imposter cycle to illustrate how this particular way of thinking becomes self-perpetuating. Take the example of a person being given an assignment to complete at work…

When they receive the assignment they feel worried and anxious about it, but essentially they have two options: either to procrastinate about completing it as a deflection from their insecurities, or to over-prepare to avoid being ‘caught out’ as an imposter.

If they procrastinate and rush to complete the work they will feel relieved to have completed the task, but if they are given positive feedback to the assignment they are likely to down-play the positivity and put it down to luck or that ‘they must have been mistaken’. Either way, they have managed to ‘fool’ the outside world again…

If, on the other hand, they over-prepared, any success would be seen as a result of the time they put in not their personal abilities. Whichever method they chose to deal with the situation, positive responses to their work will have little effect on their negative self-perception.

We have to also acknowledge that each time the negative perception is reinforced. When they are not ‘caught out’ and managed to get away with it again, then the belief is given a firmer foot holding; the view they have of themselves: next time they might not be so lucky.

Anxiety and Low-Self Esteem 

The problem is, at the very least, exacerbated by anxiety and low self-esteem because the antidote to it is having a positive and realistic perception of ourselves and our self-worth.

The origins of self-deprecation are in no small part established in a person’s earliest years.

The ideal for anyone would be to be raised in an environment of unconditional positive regard. If our caregivers were to encourage the belief in their children that they had an unconditional appreciation of their offspring regardless of the occasions they might frustrate or upset each other, then they are establishing a firm emotional foundation of valid self-belief.

An individual’s confidence is on much firmer ground when this has been the default method of upbringing. 

When we know that our successes and failures are due to our talents, efforts, and skills rather than just personality attributes, we can cope with challenges. We can cope better when things inevitably do not go to plan because we know they are to do with the circumstances rather than about who we are as a person. Our belief in ourselves becomes stronger.

Hypnoanalysis

Hypnoanalysis is a type of analytical therapy that works through and resolves the emotional build-up which causes imposter syndrome. The therapy works under the principle of cause and effect. For every effect (symptom) there has to be a cause; a reason why this person suffers in the way they do.

Rather than managing symptoms, the aim is to remove the psychological cause of the imposter syndrome. The person will be able to dispense with the management strategies they use to control their biased way of thinking because it no longer exists; without the possibility of symptom substitution.

The process does not have to be a long process either. Most people are able to complete their therapy within 6 to 8 sessions.

There really is no reason to put up with a phobia that is negatively impacting your life. Imagine what your life would be like if you were free from that fear which has been an obstacle for so long.

Find out more and book a free initial consultation at www.ketteringhypnotherapy.com or give me a call on 01536 350328