The Hidden Cost of Complex Trauma and Imposter Phenomenon in Academic Settings

The imposter phenomenon (IP) is defined as a sense of intellectual fraudulence and an inability to internalize success (Bravata et al., 2020). It is a behavioral phenomenon coined by psychologists Clance and Imes (1978) to describe how women and other underrepresented groups, despite evidence of their success, experience pervasive feelings of self-doubt, worry, and fraudulence (Huecker et al., 2023). Since the origin of IP, the term has since broadened to include various groups. While IP is common and can occur across various populations and demographics, historically, groups with underrepresented identities (e.g., women, groups with lower socioeconomic resources) have been significantly impacted (Bravata et al., 2020). The impacts of IP affect internal schemas, individual perceptions of competence, self-esteem, belonging, interpersonal connectedness, and self-efficacy (Pákozdy et al., 2024).