Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon, is a psychological experience where individuals doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments, feeling like intellectual or professional frauds. They often experience persistent internalized fears of being exposed as impostors, even in the face of external evidence of their competence, leading them to believe they don’t deserve their successes.
For instance, despite being a successful actress, Emma Watson has spoken about her personal struggles with impostor syndrome, feeling unworthy of her achievements and believing she is deceiving others about her abilities.
To overcome impostor syndrome, individuals can try recognizing their past accomplishments as evidence of their abilities, seek support from a counselor, and remind themselves that they are not alone in these feelings.