Many people experience what psychologists call imposter syndrome. This is the feeling that you don’t deserve to succeed or be accepted by others, seeing that others are much more skilled, talented, or impressive. It is also accompanied by the fear that sooner or later, someone will think of you as an imposter.
According to Dr. Young, a licensed psychologist, there are 5 types of imposter syndrome that you must know. Here’s the explanation as reported by Psych2go.
1. The Perfectionist
A perfectionist sets unrealistically high standards for themselves for fear that others will realize the flaws they have. They are never satisfied with their achievements because they always think they can be better.
If you might be a perfectionist, try shifting your focus more on the progress you’ve made, having more realistic expectations of yourself, and seeking supportive feedback. Embrace imperfection as part of human growth and focus more on effort than achievement.
2. The Natural Genius
The natural genius fears that they won’t be able to excel at something right away and will consider themselves not truly competent. A trait of the natural genius is that they often expect to do everything right the first time.
If you think you fall into this type, going through a learning process will help you overcome it. Understand that it’s okay to struggle and that every great teacher was once a beginner too. Realize that true achievement requires persistent effort and that building skills is a continuous journey.
3. The Superman/Superwoman
While the terms Superwoman or Superman sound appealing, they can be very stressful as a form of imposter syndrome. This type feels they have to excel in every role they take on and often perform multiple roles at once.
They tend to overwork themselves or have their boundaries crossed as they blame themselves for not living up to others’ expectations. If you feel you fall into this type, acknowledge that it’s okay to ask for help and it’s important to develop a healthy work-life balance.
4. The Soloist
Have you ever felt like it’s embarrassing to ask for help? Or that you’ll feel like a failure and useless if you ask for help? Be careful, you could be suffering from this type of imposter syndrome.
You think you need to handle everything yourself to feel a sense of accomplishment and may struggle to delegate tasks. However, everyone needs help sometimes. Recognizing when to ask for it is a smart and logical choice in maintaining mental health and well-being.
5. The Expert
This type of imposter syndrome believes that they must be knowledgeable in every aspect of their job or task and any gaps in their expertise make them feel like an imposter. People with this type of imposter syndrome often feel less experienced or skilled than their peers, especially if they don’t have all the answers.
So if you are the expert type, try not to compare yourself to others, especially those who are more experienced in a role. Realizing that it’s okay not to know everything can ease the pressure and allow you to focus on continuous learning and growth.
Remember, you’re not alone in feeling like an imposter at times. Knowing your imposter syndrome type allows you to customize strategies that specifically address the challenge and understanding tendencies can empower you to challenge the negative mindset at the core of the struggle.
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