In her 2012 TEDx speech named “Your body language may shape who you are,” Amy Cuddy discusses how a person’s body language can affect his or her thinking and behavior. In this regard, the author suggests that people may use certain postures in order to evoke desired feelings and set of mind artificially. However, while doing this, the speaker claims that some individuals may experience the so-called imposter syndrome or have a feeling of self-doubt that all their achievements are undeserved. As such, this problem may not only appear as a result of ‘faking’ the posture but also due to some other reasons.
Although the existence of such a concept itself may be surprising for some people, the evidence suggests that many individuals may suffer from the imposter syndrome at least once during their life. This problem is believed to be more pronounced among women and people belonging to minority groups that were previously under discrimination. Those who feel like imposters may be unable to adequately assess their skills, believe that their success is explained by luck, and belittle their performance and achievements, to name a few ‘symptoms.’
There are several factors that can lead to the development of imposter syndrome. The first one among them is upbringing and relationship with parents. The latter can instill the ideas that the child is not performing as well as his or her siblings, for example. As a result, a child internalizes the belief of being inferior to others and, thus, not deserving to be successful. The second factor is similar to the first one in nature, with the difference that the messages that cultivate the person’s self-doubt are transmitted by the society, usually in the form of social norms. For instance, in the case of Cuddy, the speaker was convinced, based on the experts’ words that she would not be able to achieve any significant academic success because of her trauma. Thus, when she actually did, Cuddy experienced imposter syndrome. Finally, the imposter syndrome may be caused by the person’s propensity to anxiety and neuroticism.
This problem can be addressed by promoting a more inclusive culture in the organizations or educational institutions, which would empower women and minority groups. Secondly, it is suggested that those suffering from imposter syndrome try to assess their abilities impartially. Lastly, sharing with one’s friends and relatives can also be helpful.