Imposter syndrome (sometimes called the imposter phenomenon) describes a persistent internal experience of intellectual self-doubt in which capable individuals attribute their success to luck, timing, or having "fooled" others rather than to their own ability. The term was introduced by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in a 1978 paper studying high-achieving women, and has since been documented across genders, disciplines, and career stages.
In policy, diplomacy, and research environments, the pattern is especially common because work is highly verbal, peer-evaluated, and credential-dense. Junior researchers at think tanks, first-time Model UN delegates, graduate students presenting at conferences, and early-career diplomats often report:
- discounting positive feedback as politeness;
- over-preparing to compensate for perceived inadequacy;
- avoiding questions in committee or seminar settings for fear of "exposure";
- attributing fellowships, placements, or speaking invitations to diversity quotas or administrative error.
It is not a clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5 or ICD-11, but rather a descriptive concept used in organizational psychology and mentoring literature. Clance later developed the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) in 1985 as a self-assessment instrument.
For MUN delegates and junior analysts, the practical relevance is twofold. First, recognizing the pattern can reduce its grip: research by Bravata et al. (2020), a systematic review published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found imposter feelings affect a wide majority of professionals at some point. Second, structural conditions — opaque promotion criteria, prestige hierarchies, underrepresentation — can amplify the experience independently of individual psychology, meaning institutional remedies (transparent feedback, mentorship, structured onboarding) matter alongside personal coping strategies.
Common counter-strategies include keeping a written record of substantive contributions, normalizing peer conversations about doubt, distinguishing competence from expertise, and treating preparation as a tool rather than a defense.
Example
A first-year analyst at a Washington think tank in 2023 publishes a well-received policy brief on Sahel security but privately attributes its reception to her supervisor's edits rather than her own research — a textbook expression of imposter syndrome.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is not listed in the DSM-5 or ICD-11. It is a descriptive concept from psychology research, first articulated by Clance and Imes in 1978, used to characterize a pattern of self-doubt rather than a disorder.
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