The Impostor Phenomenon Psychological Research, Theory, and Interventions

This book offers a scientific investigation into the impostor phenomenon, a concept that has long been misunderstood in popular culture.

Much of the conventional wisdom about the impostor phenomenon is driven by intuitive, common-sense based recommendations about how to cope with and conquer impostor feelings. Unfortunately, much of this discourse is neither rooted in nor informed by empirical research. There are many important theoretical and methodological questions regarding the impostor phenomenon that remain unanswered, such as whether the impostor phenomenon is a personality trait at the core of one's identity, or merely a predisposition triggered by circumstances or fears of being evaluated.

This book describes the theoretical underpinnings of the impostor phenomenon along with common measurement issues, implications for mental health and achievement, its relative prevalence among various population groups, and practical applications of the concept in psychotherapy and mental health treatment more broadly. 

Kevin Cokley, PhD, is University Diversity and Social Transformation professor of psychology, and associate chair for Diversity Initiatives at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His research can be broadly categorized in the area of African American psychology, with a focus on racial and ethnic identity development, academic motivation and academic achievement. In recent years he has started exploring the impostor phenomenon and its relationship to mental health and academic outcomes among minoritized students. His previous books include Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism, and The Myth of Black Anti-Intellectualism: The True Psychology of African-American Students. 

Introduction
Kevin Cokley
 
Chapter 1. An Overview of the Impostor Phenomenon: Definitional and Theoretical Considerations
Kevin Cokley, Keoshia Harris, Shaina Hall, and Myya Singletary
 
Chapter 2. The Impostor Phenomenon and Mental Health
Ramya Garba, Tia Kelley, and Carly Coleman
 
Chapter 3. Impostor Syndrome and Burnout
Lizette Ojeda
 
Chapter 4. The Impostor Phenomenon’s Relation to Achievement at School and Work
Lauren A. Blondeau
 
Chapter 5. Measurement Issues Related to the Impostor Phenomenon
Hwa Young Lee, Cheryl Anderson, Kevin Cokley, and Shine Chang
 
Chapter 6. Gender and the Impostor Phenomenon
Kadie Rackley, Taylor Payne, Ashley Bennett, and Germine H. Awad
 
Chapter 7. Racism and the Impostor Phenomenon Among African American Students: A Socio-Ecological Analysis
Donte Bernard

Chapter 8. A Mixed Methods Study of Impostor Phenomenon in A Hispanic Serving Institution
Olympia Caudillo and Rodolfo Rincones

Chapter 9. Impostor Phenomenon in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields
Devasmita Chakraverty
 
Chapter 10. Impostor Phenomenon in Medicine
Devasmita Chakraverty
 
Chapter 11. Critical Issues of the Impostor Phenomenon and Interventions for Historically Marginalized People
Lisa Orbé-Austin and Richard Orbé-Austin
 
Chapter 12. An Educational Intervention to Impostor Syndrome
Valerie Young
 
Chapter 13. Impostor Phenomenon: Origins and Treatment
Pauline Clance and Suzann Lawry

Chapter 14. Translating Impostor Phenomenon Research into Higher Education Strategies
Danielle Rosenscruggs and Laura Schram
 
Chapter 15. Trends Within the Impostor Phenomenon Literature
Steven Stone-Sabali
Index