Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Is It a Syndrome?
I hadn't realised Impostor Syndrome was such a big thing until I heard it being talked about on the radio yesterday, then came across this. Blimey. (Do try the Impostor Syndrome Quiz, by the way.) Is this really a syndrome or just the human condition? Don't we all feel roughly like this, at least part of the time, and don't the workings of the world depend to a large extent on confidence tricks and bluffery? A comforting and often true maxim is 'Don't worry, nobody else knows that they're doing either.' Banking, it is now clear, was run by impostors for a decade and more, and nobody noticed until the wheels fell off. The worrying thing is that the bankers probably didn't feel like impostors, but fully believed in themselves and their magical abilities. Self-doubt is healthy - rather more so than the much-touted 'self-esteem', I fancy. As Chesterton remarked, 'The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums.' Though I suspect quite a lot of them have escaped since his time...
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I had a boss once who was an imposter, and knew it. He said to a colleague once "Just stop there. You're one of those clever buggers who'll persuade me to do something I don't want to do....".
ReplyDeleteP.S. Is the spelling "impostor" an imposter from the USA? Maybe not.
I think the way we handle Imposter Syndrome depends on our gender. My husband, a headhunter, frequently comes across immensely capable women who consistenly under-sell themselves. This is never a problem with male candidates, who often do exactly the opposite. I suspect that spouting bullshit with conviction is a very male characteristic and the more often it is spouted, the more the individual concerned feels they are right. The nagging voice of doubt is effectively silenced.
ReplyDeleteThere are a handful people who unquestionably find their niche - Bearders on TMS; certain wizened but kindly school caretakers/handymen who make furniture for dolls' houses in their spare time; Paul Merton on Just a Minute - but pretty much everyone else is blagging it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great quote from Chesterton. I expect some might say, trying to keep a straight face, that this is all to do with shame and fear of exposure as a result of losing our fur X million years ago. I'm sure you're right, though, that it's all "just life". I suspect part of the problem is that we often rather like going along with an obvious imposter, even one who is doubly an imposter, say an imposter posing as someone "in recovery" from Impostor Syndrome. They can put on a good show, make you feel part of the club, flatter your ego, such a warming and pleasing fantasy .. and thence we arrive at Madoff and co.
ReplyDeleteI believe in myself.
ReplyDeleteWe all believe in you, Dick.
ReplyDeleteFunny that, self belief / doubt / on / off / pretending we are something else. All part of the human condition, the trick being to get the balance right, therein contentment lies, not sure about gender specific Sophie, I've met an equal number of shit faced burdz, blokes in my life.
ReplyDeleteAnyone noticed the recent phenomenon ? the fatter and uglier they are the more self confident they appear , obviously a front.
Personally I admire people who hide their light under a bushel, there is true self confidence.
Suffering from low self esteem ? how about a confidence building weekend break
ReplyDeleteWhat a city, eh Malty?
ReplyDeleteIt's the new Copenhagen!
ReplyDeleteLdv, the van maker has offered its creditors vans in lieu of payment, if a brothel went bust......?
ReplyDeleteHas no one read Kafka? Or, for that matter, any of the Modernists? We are *all* imposters here, all feeling alienated and isolated. Not all of the people all of the time, but, you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Gaia when we need her? Or Howard Jones at least?