Understanding Imposter Syndrome in Doctoral Education

 

By Lilian H. Hill

Imposter syndrome (often termed the imposter phenomenon in research literature) refers to a pervasive sense of self-doubt in which individuals question their competence, despite evidence of their accomplishments (Clance & Imes, 1978; Gómez-Morales, 2021). This experience often involves attributing success to external factors—such as luck or circumstance—rather than one’s own capabilities. A common feature is the persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.

 

Imposter syndrome is particularly salient in doctoral education because of the unique pressures associated with advanced scholarship. For many doctoral students, these feelings surface in moments of professional transition, such as dissertation writing, conference presentations, or publishing. The phenomenon involves persistent self-doubt, fear of intellectual inadequacy, and difficulty internalizing success, even when achievements are evident (Clance & Imes, 1978). For doctoral students, this can manifest in specific ways that are tied to academic culture and the demands of graduate study. These demands include a high-performance environment, pressure to contribute to knowledge in the discipline, the advisor-student relationship, perfectionism, and membership in a minority group.

·      The High-Performance Environment
Doctoral programs often admit high-achieving individuals who are accustomed to excelling. Once among equally talented peers, many students experience a sudden shift in self-perception, believing their acceptance was a mistake or that they do not truly belong (Wang & Li, 2023). This environment heightens comparison, which amplifies feelings of fraudulence.

 

·      Pressure to Contribute Original Knowledge
Unlike earlier stages of education that emphasize mastering existing knowledge, doctoral study requires students to generate new contributions through research. The challenge of producing original scholarship can intensify self-doubt: students may fear that their ideas are not innovative or rigorous enough. This anxiety can be magnified during dissertation proposal defenses, conference presentations, or journal submissions, where peers and experts evaluate work.

 

·      The Advisor–Student Relationship
The supervisory relationship plays a crucial role in how doctoral students experience imposter feelings. Supportive mentorship can validate students’ abilities, while a lack of empathy or encouragement may exacerbate self-doubt. The hierarchical nature of this relationship often reinforces feelings of inadequacy, particularly if feedback is primarily critical.

·      Perfectionism and Productivity Pressures
Doctoral students often set unrealistically high standards for themselves, believing they must publish extensively, secure funding, or produce flawless work to prove their worth. This perfectionism can lead to procrastination, overworking, or burnout. Instead of celebrating milestones, students may dismiss achievements as luck or downplay them compared to peers (Gómez-Morales, 2021)

 

·      Intersection with Diversity and Inclusion
Imposter syndrome can be intensified for students from underrepresented groups in academia. Students of color, first-generation scholars, or women in male-dominated fields often experience additional pressures related to bias, stereotype threat, or a lack of role models (Handforth, 2022; Wang & Li, 2023). Women are more likely to report heightened negative emotions associated with imposter syndrome, and doctoral students who are married, divorced, or parenting also demonstrate higher levels of imposter experiences compared to their single peers (Slimi et al., 2024). In such contexts, feelings of “not belonging” are not solely internal but reflect structural inequities in academic culture.

 

Why This Matters

Imposter syndrome is not just a psychological burden; it has practical implications. It can hinder academic risk-taking, delay dissertation progress, and undermine networking or career advancement. Left unchecked, chronic imposter feelings contribute to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and exhaustion (Gómez-Morales, 2021; Wang & Li, 2023). Individuals experiencing imposter feelings may avoid new opportunities, overwork to prove themselves, or adopt perfectionistic tendencies that erode their well-being.

 

Critiques of the Concept

While widely used, the concept of imposter syndrome has been critiqued for several reasons. First, the foundational study by Clance and Imes (1978) focused on high-achieving women, without addressing the experiences of individuals from diverse racial, socioeconomic, or occupational backgrounds. Second, scholars argue that the concept can pathologize normal anxiety responses and shift responsibility from systemic inequities to individuals (Gómez-Morales, 2021). More recent work emphasizes the importance of considering the role of racism, sexism, and classism in shaping imposter experience (Handforth, 2022).

 

Coping Strategies

Research highlights the difference between maladaptive and constructive strategies. Acknowledging feelings of imposter syndrome should be recognized as common and contextualized, which can be empowering. Rather than viewing imposter feelings as evidence of inadequacy, doctoral students can see them as part of navigating the challenges of scholarly growth. Maladaptive strategies include procrastination, avoidance, and overworking, all of which tend to reinforce self-doubt and contribute to burnout.

 

Constructive strategies include:

• Recognizing the signs of imposter thoughts, such as attributing success to luck.
• Acknowledging and naming feelings rather than ignoring them.
• Normalizing the experience by remembering that imposter feelings are common across students and faculty.
• Celebrating achievements by documenting milestones and successes.
• Building a support network of peers, mentors, and trusted colleagues.
• Defining success internally through realistic goals and gradual skill development.
• Taking on opportunities incrementally, using each as a chance to grow in confidence (Slimi et al., 2024).

 

Moving Forward

For doctoral students, reframing imposter feelings as a normal part of growth rather than as proof of inadequacy is critical. Constructive coping strategies—such as practicing self-compassion, building supportive networks, and setting incremental goals—can buffer against the negative effects. At the same time, institutions must recognize and address systemic barriers to belonging in academia. Imposter syndrome is not only about the individual; it is also about the academic culture in which they are embedded (Mutlak & Moustafa, 2023).

 

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. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006

Gómez-Morales, A. (2021). Impostor phenomenon: A concept analysis. Nursing Science Quarterly, 34(3), 309–315. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184211010462

Handforth, R. (2022). Feeling “stupid”: Considering the affective in women doctoral students’ experiences of imposter ‘syndrome’. In M. Addison, M. Breeze, M., & Y. Taylor, (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Imposter Syndrome in Higher Education, Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86570-2_18

Slimi, O., Muscella, A., Marsigliante, S., & Bahloul, M. (2024) Correlation between impostor syndrome among doctoral students and supervisor empathy in Tunisia. Frontiers in Psychology, l5, 1382969. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1382969

Wang Y and Li W (2023) The impostor phenomenon among doctoral students: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology. 14:1233434. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1233434