Ago

Do you often think that what you have - you did not earn with your knowledge and efforts, but got it as a result of a fortunate coincidence or simply due to banal luck? If you have such feelings, then we hasten to upset you - you belong to 70% of people who from time to time feel like "impostors" in their profession.

Such people believe that they are deceivers and do not deserve the success they have achieved. They usually attribute their success to luck, getting to the right place and time, or misleading others, creating an image of a smarter and more competent person than they really are.

For the first time the term "the phenomenon of" impostor "appeared in 1978 in an article by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Ames, according to whose observations many successful women tended to believe that they were not smart and that others overestimate them. Later, studies have shown that not only women but also men are susceptible to impostor syndrome, almost equally.

As a rule, the causes of the "impostor" syndrome go deep into childhood, when a child grows up in a family where parents pay great attention to the child's achievements, but at the same time do not give him human warmth.

There are 20 statements in the test. For each statement, trying not to think for a long time, it is necessary to determine how much this statement is true for you.

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Impostor syndrome test. Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes test.

1. (out of 20): I have often succeeded on a test or task even though I was afraid that I would not do well before I undertook the task:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

2. (out of 20): I can give the impression that I'm more competent than I really am:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

3. (out of 20): I avoid evaluations if possible and have a dread of others evaluating me:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

4. (out of 20): When people praise me for something I've accomplished, I'm afraid I won't be able to live up to their expectations of me in the future:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

5. (out of 20): I sometimes think I obtained my present position or gained my present success because I happened to be in the right place at the right time or knew the right people:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

6. (out of 20): I'm afraid people important to me may find out that I'm not as capable as they think I am:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

7. (out of 20): I tend to remember the incidents in which I have not done my best more than those times I have done my best:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

8. (out of 20): I rarely do a project or task as well as I'd like to do it:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

9. (out of 20): Sometimes I feel or believe that my success in my life or in my job has been the result of some kind of error:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

10. (out of 20): It's hard for me to accept compliments or praise about my intelligence or accomplishments:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

11. (out of 20): At times, I feel my success has been due to some kind of luck:

Choose a single answer

---

а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

12. (out of 20): I'm disappointed at times in my present accomplishments and think I should have accomplished much more:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

13. (out of 20): Sometimes I'm afraid others will discover how much knowledge or ability I really lack:

Choose a single answer

---

а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

14. (out of 20): I'm often afraid that I may fail at a new assignment or undertaking even though I generally do well at what I attempt:

Choose a single answer

---

а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

15. (out of 20): When I've succeeded at something and received recognition for my accomplishments, I have doubts that I can keep repeating that success:

Choose a single answer

---

а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

16. (out of 20): If I receive a great deal of praise and recognition for something I've accomplished, I tend to discount the importance of what I've done:

Choose a single answer

---

а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

17. (out of 20): I often compare my ability to those around me and think they may be more intelligent than I am:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

18. (out of 20): I often worry about not succeeding with a project or examination, even though others around me have considerable confidence that I will do well:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

19. (out of 20): If I'm going to receive a promotion or gain recognition of some kind, I hesitate to tell others until it is an accomplished fact:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;

20. (out of 20): I feel bad and discouraged if I'm not «the best» or at least «very special» in situations that involve achievement:

Choose a single answer

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а) not at all true;

b) rarely;

c) sometimes;

d) often;

e) very true;