Yes. Recent peer-reviewed research reports that imposter syndrome is strongly associated with rigid and self-critical forms of perfectionism, and not associated with narcissistic perfectionism. In practice, people who feel like imposters tend to set inflexible standards and judge themselves harshly, but they are no more likely to endorse superiority-driven, self-promotional perfectionism. The study appears in Personality and Individual Differences.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome (also called the imposter phenomenon) is the persistent belief that your success is undeserved or the result of luck, alongside fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite objective evidence of competence.
The APA defines the impostor phenomenon as “a pattern of doubting one’s accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’ despite evidence of success.” (APA Dictionary)
The term was introduced in a classic paper by Clance and Imes, who described common features such as attributing success to external factors, discounting praise, and overpreparing to avoid failure (Clance & Imes, 1978).
What types of perfectionism did the study examine?
Modern models distinguish multiple dimensions of perfectionism. The Big Three Perfectionism framework differentiates:
- Rigid perfectionism, the insistence that one’s performance must be flawless and adherence to inflexible standards.
- Self-critical perfectionism, a tendency to harshly evaluate one’s mistakes, catastrophize shortfalls, and equate self-worth with meeting high standards.
- Narcissistic perfectionism, perfectionistic expectations paired with entitlement, superiority, and self-promotional motives.
These dimensions are measured with validated scales such as the Big Three Perfectionism Scale (Smith, Sherry, et al., 2016).
What did the new study find?
The research analyzed associations between imposter feelings and specific perfectionism dimensions. The key results were:
- Imposterism was positively correlated with total perfectionism, and especially with rigid and self-critical perfectionism.
- No significant relationship emerged between imposterism and narcissistic perfectionism.
- The imposter tendency to discount successes was negatively related to narcissistic perfectionism, consistent with the latter’s self-enhancing style.
In short: imposter feelings co-occur with inflexible standards and harsh self-judgment, not with superiority-driven, self-promotional perfectionism. (Personality and Individual Differences, 2025)
These patterns align with the idea that imposterism reflects internalized pressure to be perfect and a bias to minimize one’s achievements, rather than grandiosity or entitlement.
Why does this connection matter?
Understanding which perfectionism traits travel with imposterism helps clinicians, educators, and managers target the right mechanisms:
- Assessment accuracy: Not all perfectionism is the same. Screening for rigid rules (musts/shoulds) and punitive self-talk is more relevant to imposter distress than screening for narcissistic traits.
- Intervention focus: Approaches that reduce self-criticism and modify unrealistic standards—such as cognitive behavioral strategies, graded exposure to “good enough” performance, and self-compassion training—map directly onto the linked traits (Egan, Wade, & Shafran, 2011).
- Workplace practices: Feedback that is specific and process-focused can counter success-discounting, while mentoring can normalize competence gaps without reinforcing perfectionistic rules.
More broadly, perfectionism is associated with higher risk of anxiety, depression, and burnout, so clarifying its role in imposterism supports prevention efforts in high-achievement settings (Curran & Hill, 2017).
What are the limitations of the study?
- Correlational design: The data show associations, not causation. We cannot say perfectionism causes imposter feelings, only that they co-occur.
- Self-report measures: Results depend on how participants rated themselves, which can be biased by mood or context.
- Generalizability: Samples drawn from specific populations may not represent all professions, cultures, or age groups. Replication across diverse cohorts will strengthen confidence in the pattern.
What can you do if you struggle with imposter feelings?
- Name the rules: Write down rigid standards (for example, “I must never make mistakes”) and test more flexible alternatives (for example, “Mistakes are data, not verdicts”).
- Track evidence: Keep a running log of concrete contributions and outcomes to counter the habit of discounting success.
- Practice self-compassion: Treat lapses as opportunities to learn rather than proofs of inadequacy; brief self-compassion exercises can reduce self-criticism.
- Seek calibrated feedback: Ask trusted peers or mentors for specific, behavior-based feedback to replace global self-judgments.
- Consider structured help: Perfectionism-focused CBT and related approaches have evidence for reducing maladaptive perfectionism and associated distress (Egan et al., 2011).