Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in People with High IQs

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.0159672604064

• Palavras-chave: giftedness, impostorism, imposter phenomenon

• Keywords: giftedness, impostorism, imposter phenomenon

• Abstract:

  People with high IQs (Intelligence Quotient) who suffer from imposter syndrome tend to achieve great success in academic and professional fields; however, they feel insecure because they do not believe they played a part in this achievement, as imposter syndrome is a psychological disorder in which patients find it difficult to accept and te their own success. To address imposter syndrome in individuals with high IQs, a description of personal experiences was conducted alongside a retrospective and systematic literature review. Gifted individuals are prone to downplaying their own merit by attributing it to external factors and others involved in the project, often attributing success to luck and opportunity. To assess the syndrome, the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale is used, and among the signs and symptoms, there are five main signs associated with imposter syndrome: generalized anxiety; low self-esteem; depression; burnout; and lack of self-confidence. Therefore, attention to self-esteem and perfectionism is considered a “key point” in treating imposter syndrome, as developing these skills can reduce the severity of the syndrome