Root Causes of Imposter Syndrome: Why Smart People Doubt Themselves

What Causes Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is caused by a mix of personal beliefs and external pressures. Root causes include perfectionism, unclear measures of success, biased environments, minority status, and discounting achievements. Together, these create a cycle of overwork, self-doubt, and fear of being “found out.”

What Do We Mean by “Imposter Syndrome”?

Despite the name, it’s not an official diagnosis – you won’t find it in medical manuals. But the term is widely used because it captures a very real experience: feeling like a fraud despite evidence of competence. Here’s the catch: imposter syndrome is often misused. Some professionals treat it as everyday self-doubt; others use it without knowing how to address it. In popular culture it’s become a buzzword. Yet for many, the impact is serious: burnout, anxiety, stalled careers, and years of explaining away success.

Where the Term Came From

The concept was coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. Their study of high-achieving women showed a pattern:

• Attributing success to luck or effort, not ability
• Fear of being “found out”
• Difficulty accepting praise.

Context was key. Women were entering male-dominated professions, often facing bias and scrutiny. With few role models, it’s no surprise many felt undeserving.

What We Know Now

Modern research shows imposter feelings affect all genders. A 2024 meta-analysis of 40,000 people found women scored slightly higher, but men experience it too — often less openly. The bigger drivers are environmental:

• Subjective roles: Work judged by opinion (therapy, teaching, leadership) fuels doubt.
• “Onlyness”: Being the only woman, person of colour, or first-generation professional adds pressure.
• Systemic bias: Microaggressions and stereotypes can reinforce fraud feelings. Critics argue that blaming “imposter syndrome” alone ignores toxic workplace cultures (Ref: Harvard Business Review).
•  Perfectionism & conditional worth: Unless flawless, success feels undeserved.
• Upward comparison: Surrounded by talent, people dismiss their own achievements.
• Discounting praise: Compliments are brushed off; wins are credited to luck or timing.

The Imposter Cycle

Imposter syndrome plays out in a repeating loop:

1. Trigger: A challenge, new role, or evaluation.
2. Pressure: “I must be flawless to belong.”
3. Safety behaviours: Overwork, procrastination, avoidance, staying quiet.
4. Relief: Success brings a temporary “phew.”
5. Discounting: “I only managed because of luck/extra effort.”
6. Belief reinforced: “If I were competent, I wouldn’t need these crutches.”

Instead of building confidence, success increases fear that next time you’ll be exposed.

Could Trauma Play a Role?

Emerging clinical perspectives suggest it might. While research is limited, hypotheses include:

• Critical or inconsistent parenting → core belief of never being good enough.
• Overpraise → unrealistic standards, achievements feel fake.
• Adverse childhood experiences → linked to poor emotion regulation and attachment anxiety, which can fuel impostor feelings.

These trauma-informed ideas aren’t conclusive, but they highlight why impostor feelings can run so deep.

Breaking the Cycle

Small steps can help loosen imposter syndrome’s grip:

• Name it: Recognise the impostor voice when it appears.
• Experiment: Ease back on one safety habit; see what actually happens.
• Keep an evidence log: Record achievements and feedback.
• Talk about it: Most high achievers have felt the same way.

If these patterns feel entrenched, therapy can help untangle early roots and build healthier ways of relating to success.