Imposter phenomenon rife among academics

Why academics feel like imposters? #MSBlog #MSResearch

"The imposter syndrome is common among us researchers, which is one of the reasons why researchers tend to shy away from social media and public engagement."


Some of you may find the following news piece of interest:

James Brooks. Imposter phenomenon rife among academics, studies find. Research Professional 11 May 15.

Excerpts:

... The impostor phenomenon is a psychological condition first described in 1978. Sufferers are beset by unjustified feelings of inadequacy and live in fear of being ‘found out’ by others....

..... Holly Hutchins, an associate professor of human resource development at the University of Houston in the United States, carried out a pilot study of 61 academics, ....

.... The pilot study identifies “moderately high” levels of impostor phenomenon in the group and one statistically significant correlation: tenure track academics reported higher levels than tenured or non-tenured faculty members.....

.... The larger study also reports a rise in the phenomenon among tenure track academics, Hutchins says. That study highlights the importance of social support....

.... Anecdotal evidence has long suggested that the phenomenon is common in academia—it is thought to flourish among conscientious, achievement-oriented individuals and those working in competitive jobs—but studies of higher education have rarely investigated early-career researchers.....

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