Fear of Fraudulence in Graduate School: The Social Psychology of the Impostor Phenomenon

• In Event: 475 - Section on Social Psychology Paper Session. Social Psychology of Health and Well-Being

Abstract

Like other professionals in high-pressure careers, graduate students are vulnerable to feelings of impostorism. The impostor phenomenon occurs when people who are highly capable perceive their abilities negatively, despite evidence to the contrary. Prior research has emphasized the psychological durability of impostor identities, locating the roots of impostor feelings in personality traits and early childhood experiences. We argue that impostorism can also be conceptualized as a self-concept that is shaped by social contexts. Drawing on identity control theory, we propose that characteristics of the local social environment can cause interruptions in the identity control feedback loop, generating impostor feelings. As a preliminary test we examine how features of graduate programs affect students’ experiences with the impostor phenomenon, using a survey sample of graduate students at a large, Midwestern university (N=1,476). Using random-intercept multilevel regression, we model impostor feelings as a function of the availability and quality of mentoring, concerns about funding, and feelings of isolation in graduate departments. Results provide evidence that social contexts influence individuals’ impostor feelings. Implications for theorizing the impostor phenomenon and future research are discussed.

Authors

• Emma D. Cohen, Indiana University

• William R McConnell, Indiana University-Bloomington