Some people who perform at the highest levels carry a private fear that clashes with their outward success. Despite strong résumés and long lists of achievements, they worry that others will eventually realize they do not truly belong.

In their own minds, top grades, prestigious awards, and competitive research funding are not proof of ability. Instead, these accomplishments are dismissed as coincidence or good timing. The inner voice insists that success came from being in the right place at the right moment, not from talent or hard work.

What Impostorism Really Means

This experience is known as impostorism, a psychological pattern that is separate from low self esteem or depression. According to Binghamton University, State University of New York psychology researcher Jiyun Elizabeth Shin, impostorism involves persistent self doubt even when objective evidence shows success. Shin, a lecturer who leads the Social Identity & Academic Engagement Laboratory, recently published research on the topic in the journal Social Psychology of Education titled "Impostorism: Prevalence and its relationships with mental health, burnout, dropout consideration, and achievement among graduate women in STEM."

Her findings reveal how widespread the experience is. Shin's study shows that 97.5% of women enrolled in STEM graduate programs report at least moderate levels of impostor feelings. The likelihood may be even higher for individuals who hold multiple marginalized identities, such as women of color.

"Impostorism is a feeling like being an intellectual fraud even when there is strong evidence of success," Shin explained. "You believe that other people are overestimating your abilities and intelligence, and you fear that one day you'll be exposed as incompetent and undeserving of your success."

Why Success Feels Like Luck

At its core, impostorism shapes how people interpret their abilities and past achievements. Those affected struggle to accept success as something they earned. Instead, they often credit outside factors like luck, timing, or help from others. As a result, they fear they will not be able to repeat their achievements and worry that others will eventually see through what they perceive as an illusion.

Although impostorism can affect anyone, people from underrepresented or minoritized groups may face added pressure. Negative cultural assumptions can make these feelings stronger. In fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics, long standing stereotypes wrongly suggest that women lack the natural intellectual ability to succeed. These beliefs can make it harder for women to internalize their accomplishments. Limited representation in these fields can reinforce the message, reminding individuals of society's doubts about their abilities.

Mental Health and Burnout Risks