This feeling can be particularly prevalent in fields where there is great currency in the perception of intellectual standing (like academia, especially in science). My impression is that a large majority of physicists at all levels (faculty, postdocs, grad students, undergrads) experience this to greater or lesser degrees and frequencies. We're trained to think critically, and driven people tend to overthink things. If you're fighting with something (some homework set, or some experiment, or getting some paper out, or writing a proposal), and your perception is that others around you are succeeding while you feel like you're struggling, it's not surprising that self-doubt can creep in.
I'm not posting because I've had a great insight into mitigating these feelings (though here are some tips). I'm posting just to say to readers who feel like that sometimes: you're not alone.
6 comments:
If you never experience imposter syndrome, you are not paying attention.
Don, if you never experience imposter syndrome, you probably have some personality disorder (note: not an actual medical diagnosis :-) ).
I always feel like I ought to be experiencing impostor syndrome, because all of my peers are experiencing it. What's wrong with me?
(warning: sarcasm)
Working in research in the industry, I'm continually amazed at most/many of "captains" of the industry (aka most VPs, SVPs, CEOs...) who always are at the other extreme of the spectrum. Without an iota of self-doubt or self-critique ever, these creatures are forever attuned to self-glorification founded on lies and deceit (note the recent news on "leaders" at Google). Narcissism may be just be antithesis of Imposter Syndrome!
Anon, in fact, I would wager that quite often those narcissists actually have some of the worst cases of Imposter Syndrome and are overcompensating. Such insecurity masquerading as overconfidence, by the way, is not restricted to industry 'captains' but is common to all lines of work, including, I expect, several of the more prominent and vocal members of academia.
In my case, such syndrome seems to be a drive for perfection. As if everything is simply not enough.
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