Dean Leonard

Ben Crane

English 1201.511

29 April 2021

Imposter Syndrome

Success is the thing that most people want in life. Whether it be emotional, monetary, or

career-centric, everyone wants to succeed. Humans set goals for themselves then they do

anything to accomplish them. Once they have achieved what they wanted, often it does not feel

right. For one reason or another, their accomplishment is not what they expected. People will

then justify that feeling by thinking that they did not do enough to get what they wanted. They

are unworthy of their successes and should not be in the place they are. This feeling is personal

and relatable to many. While this phenomenon is widespread, it comes as the result of something

called Imposter Syndrome. This is when one feels like a fraud or an imposter. Almost everyone

has felt some version of Imposter Syndrome, but too few people do anything to combat it. It is

seen as a normal part of the human experience. It is helpful to learn methods to battle against

these intrusive thoughts to live a happier life. A mix of physical and mental changes can combat

Imposter Syndrome and help one progress past anxiety about their life and lead to satisfaction.
 When one succeeds, they can feel like it is not deserved. They cannot accept their

accomplishments even in a reassuring environment. They feel like an imposter. They are aware

of how hard they work but feel others are more deserving. This Imposter Syndrome leads to a

disassociation, making one never truly satisfied even if they get everything they have ever

wanted. It is linked closely with mental health issues like burnout, anxiety, and depression

(Alrayyes). In their head, their happiness is not deserved, and they are unworthy of their

achievements.
 Some possible misconceptions about Imposter Syndrome are that it is an innate mental

disorder. Imposter Syndrome is caused by both nature and nurture. An example of this is that the

stigma against minority groups often can cause Imposter Syndrome among them (Levesque). But

it is also human nature to not give oneself credit for their achievements. It is not a rare condition

only affecting certain people; it affects almost everyone. Another misconception is that it does

not occur in highly successful people. People who face Imposter Syndrome often continue to

face it even after great success. Riz Ahmed, an Oscar-nominated actor, is open about his

Imposter Syndrome increasing with his success (Edmonds). Imposter Syndrome is not associated

with reality but people’s perception of their lives. These thoughts are never healthy or realistic. It

is simply irrational that a man of Ahmed’s caliber and fame would still deal with this situation,

yet it still happens.

Some say it is a part of human nature, while others blame different societies’ perfectionist

pressures. When people are conditioned to strive for perfection, it can lead to dissatisfaction with

everything. Nothing is perfect, so striving for perfection is a pipe dream. Psychologist Saad

Alrayyes tried to prove this by doing a study among adults living in Saudi Arabia. He saw the

perfectionist ideals ingrained in the youth of this country and wanted to test it in adults. Among

his sample group, 57.8% of adults felt imposter syndrome, and 56.5% of them had severe

symptoms of depression (Alrayyes). Alrayyes associates this statistic with Saudi Arabia’s

pressure-filled society, but the data is not specific enough to reflect that. He does not research

why these people are feeling Imposter Syndrome, only that they are feeling it. Their data shows a

correlation between living in Saudi Arabia and having Imposter Syndrome but not causation.

However, this does not mean it cannot be a result of one’s environment.

 Fredrick Hives takes a logical approach to support Imposter Syndrome being

societal. In America, marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by this feeling of not

belonging. Hives’ experience being a black man gives him a particular focus. Hives says that he

“was taught (he) would need to 'work twice as hard to be half as good.'" (Hives & Weir) This

pressure is a frightening reality for many marginalized groups in the United States and beyond.

The struggle of racism and prejudice overtake many people; those who make it commonly feel

they do not deserve it. When people are conditioned to believe they cannot succeed, that feeling

does not go away with success. It continues to be irrational and harmful.

How Imposter Syndrome goes away is heavily debated by both psychologists and

people who experience it. Some even argue that it is impossible to shake. There are apparent

flaws with the sentiment of this statement. While there is a good chance it will never go away,

there are ways to diminish the feeling. It is like if a person told someone suffering from chronic

pain, they should not take pain medication because it will never make the pain cease. It is worth

examination to help those who suffer from it suffer less severely. An unproductive mentality

harms every aspect of one’s life. They can believe that their friends do not love them, they

should not be as happy as they are, and even more intrusive thoughts. The goal is to find a

solution that can help people accept their successes and be more satisfied.

One of the most prevalent suggestions to fight Imposter Syndrome has been the

Alter Ego Effect. Alter Ego Effect takes imposter syndrome and completely embraces it. Often,

people give more credit to others than they do themselves, so people like Todd Herman think

they should create a separate part of themselves to receive achievements (Herman 3-4). He

brings up an example with Beyonce to support his point. When she was a rising artist, Beyonce

had trouble with confidence and stage presence. Shockingly, a star who is known for precocious
performances used to struggle with stage fright. Her solution was to create an alter ego named

Sasha Fierce. Whenever she stepped on a stage, she was no longer Beyonce Knowles but Sasha

Fierce. This person helped her become the confident performer that she is widely known as

today. Eventually, her confidence was built up enough that she retired the persona with her

album “I am… Sasha Fierce.” (Herman 30-32) She did not let this persona overstay its welcome.

Instead, she used it as a tool to improve her performances and catapult her career to success.

The Alter Ego Effect is fascinatingly addressed in Rachel Martin's article for NPR on

how people use their physical traits to influence their confidence. Martin describes an experiment

that New York Times Editor Jazmine Hughes ran. She went to work every day wearing confident

outfits worn by the character Cookie on Empire. This physical manifestation of confidence

improved her mental state. Hughes felt like she "was sort of a boss and in charge." (Martin &

Hughes) This change caused her to take ownership of her successes. Hughes’ tactic seems like

something that Herman might encourage. Pretending to be a character is something he describes

as a possible solution in his book (Herman 202-6).

Martin’s tactic of physical change to affect mindset is something discussed in psychology

often. Behavior and cognition have an extremely tight bond. When one changes their behavior, it

usually changes their cognition. It works the same the other way around. Having a physical

change can manifest mental freedom. In Jazmine Hughes’ case, dressing as a confident, larger-

than-life figure helped her feel more confident in her work (Martin & Hughes). The admiration

she felt for the character transitioned to herself. Todd Herman agrees on this tactic of using a

piece of clothing to bring upon wanted change (Herman 202-6), but some cautionary tales advise

against going too far into an alter ego.

 Getting lost in a persona is the danger of the Alter Ego Effect. If the alter ego is too

different from one's normal personality, one could obtain a loss of identity. The Alter Ego

Effect's goal is to allow one to be their best self, not another person. There have been many

circumstances where people have taken this solution too far. They use it as a coping mechanism

rather than a tool to improve their life. When they use The Alter Ego Effect in this regard, their

mental state can get out of hand. It gets them to disregard real problems they should be

addressing.

The danger with the Alter Ego Effect is shown through Jim Carrey and Andy Kaufman.

Carrey is a world-renowned comedic actor known for iconic movies like Ace Ventura, Dumb

and Dumber, and The Truman Show. Even though he is most known for comedic films, he has

dipped his toes into dramatic acting. In 1999, Carrey played Andy Kaufmann in the movie Man

on the Moon. Carrey’s process through this film is well-documented in the documentary Jim &

Andy. Carrey would stay in character for the entirety of the filming process. Eventually, this led

to a psychotic break that left him spiraling down into a deep depression. (Smith)

Since then, Carrey has discussed his debilitating mental health issues. Before playing

Andy Kaufmann, he would use his comedic, quirky characters to escape from his problems. His

roles delayed him coming to terms with his emotions. While playing these characters, Carrey’s

mental illnesses snowballed into more extensive and more significant issues. However, he

continued down this path of escapism until Kaufman faced him. Andy Kaufman was a famous

comedian known for his deep connection with his bits. He got so involved with his gags that

there was no line between Kaufman and the jokes he told. When Carrey took on this role, he was

forced to confront a man who was a lot like himself. A man who valued an audience’s reaction

more than his state of being. Carrey dug into this character so deeply that he saw no difference
between the role and the actor. This role opened the floodgates of Carrey’s mental illness and led

to his psychotic break. Carrey said, “When the movie was over I couldn’t remember who I was

anymore.” (Smith)

Jim Carrey’s experience with Kaufman feels like a cautionary tale of what Herman

suggests. The Alter Ego Effect can be an excellent tool for manifesting confidence, but it can

also lead to dangerous escapism. One must find a healthy balance between using an alternate

persona to help improve their life and getting lost into a character. Although Jazmine Hughes

does not get to a point where her Cookie character is dangerous, it is a scary possibility.

Preventing it from going too far comes with being aware of how to use the alter ego. Carrey was

unaware of how much he was escaping from his own life until he played Kaufman. Rather than

controlling his characters, his characters were controlling him (Smith). Hughes seems to be more

aware. She knows what she is doing and the result that comes along. When Hughes dresses as

Cookie, she becomes more confident in her work setting. If she became unaware of why she was

using Cookie, it would be dangerous to herself, as shown through Carrey.

Physical change can be a helpful way to combat Imposter Syndrome due to the resulting

change in cognition. It can jumpstart a change and lead to growth quickly. Although this method

is beneficial to many, there is another significant way to approach it. Working to change one’s

mindset using a direct path through spirituality is a standard solution. Spirituality is not purely

religious, even though it is frequently associated. Spirituality reflects one’s connection with the

human soul rather than environmental or physical objects. People look within to discover truths.

Sometimes this can mean looking towards religion, but it is not inherently intertwined. People of

all demographics practice secular spirituality. When people talk about religious spirituality there
are still things to apply even if one does not believe in religion or the religion they are

discussing.

Ahmed talks about spirituality as a solution to Imposter Syndrome. He believes that one

should look towards the bigger picture to feel important. He sees himself as a piece in a larger

puzzle that will fit in wherever life takes him. He relates that to religion but also notes that it can

be a secular belief. He believes that each person is a stepping-stone for the next generation to

outdo them and seek inspiration. He says, "It's really useful to believe in something other than

and bigger than yourself." (Edmonds & Ahmed) Roger Levesque Jr. might argue that believing

in a bigger picture isn't enough. Often, people will self-sabotage and create obstacles to deter

themselves. When that happens, people might need a more comprehensive solution than a higher

power (Levesque).

There’s much to be learned from Stephen Sondheim’s experience with Imposter

Syndrome. Sondheim is one of the most famous musical theatre composers and lyricists of all

time. He rose to success by breaking every typical theatre convention taught to him and creating

a signature style of disjointed rhythms mimicking speech patterns. He made a new genre of

music with his creative genius. This icon almost quit music even after his many successes

(Secrest). Like many people, he was dealing with severe imposter syndrome. Many critics saw

him as the king of modern musical theatre, and he valued that external motivation. After one

flop, Merrily we Roll Along, the critics turned on him. New York Times critic Frank Rich wrote,

“what's really being wasted here is Mr. Sondheim's talent. And that’s why we watch 'Merrily We

Roll Along' with an ever-mounting - and finally upsetting - sense of regret.” (Rich)

Scathing reviews like this one shook Sondheim’s confidence. In response, he said, “ for

the first time… I felt… a hopelessness, a wretched awareness that the best thing I could do was
to forget the theatre and take the first job offered” (Sondheim & Secrest 323). The belief that his

work before that was a fluke was ingrained in his mind. He was suffering from Imposter

Syndrome. He decided to take time off and think about his career. Eventually, he took a trip to

the Chicago Art Museum and saw George Seurat's painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of

La Grande Jatte. Something about this painting spoke to him. Living for himself rather than for

others or what people thought of him was his new goal. Inner focus allowed him to overcome his

anxieties with working again. His next masterpiece would be a musical surrounding that

painting. Throughout the piece, themes of imposter syndrome are worked in through the

character George. At the end of the show, George learns that he needs to dwell less on the past or

future and act on his present wants and needs. Sondheim’s solution to imposter syndrome is to

stop thinking about others. Once one gets out of their head and makes things simple, they will be

much happier. (Secrest 322-342).

Ahmed’s solution contrasts with Sondheim. He mentioned that he turns his focus to a

bigger picture when he feels like he does not belong. However, Sondheim lived for a bigger

picture, and he felt the worst effects of the feeling. Their ideas are very different, but there is a

common thread. They both latched on to simplicity. Their minds both ran around and

overcomplicated their success and other situations. When they refocused, they both found better

results. Sondheim was able to create his most well-respected piece of theatre, and Ahmed was

nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Sound of Metal. Imposter Syndrome is a purely

mental occurrence, so creating a mental diversion improved their thoughts. It simplified

overcomplications.

Hearing all these different solutions can be overwhelming. There is not an all-

encompassing fix that will solve all problem that comes with Imposter Syndrome. One can
gather information from stories on combatting this feeling and take things that work for them.

Having a physical reminder to combat these feelings can cause a significant change in mindset.

Through mindfulness and spirituality, they can make sure they’re using tactics and prevent the

tactics from using them, like in Carrey’s situation. With these solutions, life becomes less wildly

complex. People can finally take ownership of their successes. They do not live in denial of

reality, but they control their mindset. With these solutions, people will be happier, healthier, and

more appreciative.

Often, when one feels Imposter Syndrome, they either write it off or fall victim to it. The

hope is that with education and learning more about what it is, people won’t face the severe

symptoms of Imposter Syndrome. Generally, with more information, people will be less likely to

get trapped in the pitfalls of this condition. An increase of awareness on one's psychology can

prevent negative situations like Jim Carrey’s history with Imposter Syndrome. There is quite a

lot of stigma surrounding these feelings, yet everyone feels it. If the conversation on mental

health becomes more open, people can help prop each other up and decrease Imposter

Syndrome’s adverse effects.

 Works Cited

Alrayyes, Saad, et al. “Burnout and Imposter Syndrome among Saudi Young Adults: The Strings

in the Puppet Show of Psychological Morbidity.” Saudi Medical Journal, vol. 41, no. 2,

Feb. 2020, p. 189. EBSCOhost, doi:10.15537/smj.2020.2.24841.

Edmonds, Lizzie. “For a Long Time I Felt I Didn’t Belong in Film Industry, Says

Ahmed.” Evening Standard, 23 Mar. 2020, p. 11. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=142377598&site=eds-live.

Herman, Todd. The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life.

Harper Business, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2019. 

Korando, Billy. Imposter Syndrome Graphic. 2019 Software Engineering Daily.

https://softwareengineeringdaily.com/2019/09/10/finding-the-benefits-of-imposter-

syndrome/
Levesque, Roger J. R. "Impostor Phenomenon." Encyclopedia of Adolescence, Roger J. R.

Levesque, Springer Science+Business Media, 2nd edition, 2018. Credo Reference,

http://sinclair.ohionet.org/login?

url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sprgstv/impostor_phenomenon/0?

institutionId=6043. Accessed 03 Mar. 2021.

Martin, Rachel. “How Empire’s Fierce ‘Cookie’ Can Help Kick Imposter Syndrome.” Weekend

Edition Sunday, Nov. 2015. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.433432235&site=eds-live.

Middleton, Tom, director. ReOrchestrated. Amazon Music, 2021. 

Shullman, Sandra L. “American Psychological Association (APA).” American Psychological

Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/. 

Secrest, Meryle. Stephen Sondheim: A Life. Vintage Books Of Random House Inc. New York,

1998.

Smith, Chris, director. Jim & Andy. Netflix, 2017.