What is impostor syndrome and why can even the most successful people experience it?

In a world saturated with information and constant exposure to images departure to social spheres, recognition and admiration became more popular than ever before. However, behind the facade of perfection lies a more complete and ordinary reality than we can imagine: impostor syndrome.

And that happened before boom of the social world, because in reality it is very difficult for any person, no matter what the field of work, to end this feeling.

According to the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (AN M), more than 70% of the world’s population has suffered from impostor syndrome at some point in their lives. As many people as celebrities have met inside this place Emma Watson, actress who played a Hermione Grangera character from the Harry Potter saga; Michelle Obama, lawyer, writer and expremera lady of the United States; Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks, y Neil Armstrongthe first man to see the moon experienced this psychological phenomenon.

Impostor syndrome is one psychological phenomenon Because of this, successful people feel that they are not worthless and feel like frauds or frauds. This syndrome creates a sense of involvement in the people who experience it and makes them believe that what they have experienced is not worth it. Despite the fact that the records and results are obvious, it creates a lasting feeling that you don’t care about the recognition or the result that was achieved.

Those who suffer from this syndrome tend to attribute their stress to the heart or external factors, thereby minimizing their own abilities and capabilities. At the same time, I fear that at some point I will be forgotten as I am “scams” or “scams”which generates anxiety, uncertainty at the time of the event and, above all, a constant search for external validation.

Imposter syndrome was first discovered in women in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, but over the years it has been shown to affect men as well.

A specialist from the highest chamber of studies explains that this feeling is not real, it can usually be felt with real and painful feelings that reflect the result of the person concerned, but even so, many people do not believe that they have any merit in it. their own right and at the same time destroy self-confidence, cause anxiety, depression and other emotional disorders.

Likewise, in patients who are perfectionists, anxiety can paralyze and prevent them from finding appropriate solutions to certain problems, or make them nervous or impaired in their ability to “decide and do it.”

Impostor syndrome has no specific cause. Its origin is multifactorial: biological, psychological and social, as pointed out by Nicolás Barrientos. Childhood comparisons or estimates (“your mom is better”, “you weren’t good at school” or conversely “you were a topper”) over time can be appropriate.

Personality type and perception of what the outcome, incident and competence are can also cause this psychological phenomenon. And when problems arise on interpersonal, academic or work level, the person must seek psychological support (preferably cognitive-behavioral trial), psychotherapy to help him identify this type of erroneous beliefs so that they do not affect him on an emotional level. y conductive.

This syndrome is more likely to occur in people who suffer from depressive-type emotional problems, with generalized anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. If psychological treatment is not enough, Barrientos Nicolás recommends consulting a psychiatrist.

For example, in an academic setting, investigators may see this as weighing their scientific knowledge. In the business world, los leaders and entrepreneurs Successful men on the menu are left with feelings of inadequacy or inability to prepare to unpack the cargo. Y en el field of health and medicineProfessionals – especially those in training – often experiment with it as well.

Impostor syndrome can be common in professions where recognition is the norm. In summary, there appears to be a strong relationship between people who have experienced remarkable personal outcomes and the symptoms that describe this syndrome.

This prevalence can be explained by a cognitive approach: el The Dunning-Kruger effect. This psychological phenomenon describes the tendency of less competent people to overestimate their abilities, while those with more abilities tend to underestimate their abilities. It is closely related to impostor syndrome, as both conditions reflect a discrepancy between internal perception and objective reality.

Dealing with impostor syndrome can be frustrating, but there are strategies that have proven effective for this type of situation. The first key is to understand what is normal during the growth process and what you should accept. Positive self-affirmation, social support research, or personal assessment are just a few ways to address this issue.

In addition, disabled people need to work on their self-esteem and self-confidence, which may include developing their self-reflection and self-care skills. Some experts also recommend engaging in cognitive-behavioral therapy, which can help people identify and manage the distorted thoughts that fuel feeling like an imposter.

Normalizing this experience and putting it into context – instead of stigmatizing it – can help people recognize that they are not alone in their feelings of inadequacy.