Das Imposter-Syndrom ist eng mit starren und selbstkritischen Formen des Perfektionismus verbunden, hat jedoch keinen Zusammenhang mit narzisstischem Perfektionismus. Diese Ergebnisse ermöglichen ein differenzierteres Verständnis dafür, wie das Gefühl der Unzulänglichkeit mit hohen Standards einhergeht.

Imposter syndrome is strongly linked to these two types of perfectionism

New research indicates that the phenomenon known as **imposter syndrome is strongly linked to rigid and self-critical forms of perfectionism but shares no connection with narcissistic perfectionism. These findings provide a more nuanced understanding of how feelings of inadequacy coexist with high standards**. The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

The data analysis revealed that overall feelings of imposterism were positively correlated with total perfectionism scores. When the researchers examined the specific subtypes, they found distinct patterns. Participants who scored high on imposterism also tended to score high on rigid perfectionism. A similar strong positive relationship was observed between imposterism and self-critical perfectionism.

A different pattern emerged regarding narcissistic perfectionism. The analysis showed no significant relationship between feelings of being an imposter and narcissistic perfectionism. This suggests that the grandiose belief in one’s own superiority does not typically coexist with the paralyzing self-doubt of imposter syndrome.

The researchers also looked at the specific components of imposterism to understand these dynamics better. They found that the tendency to discount one’s own success was negatively correlated with narcissistic perfectionism. This means that individuals who view themselves as superior are significantly less likely to minimize their achievements.

The results provide evidence that narcissistic perfectionism functions differently from other forms of perfectionism. It is characterized by self-defensiveness and self-promotion rather than the self-deprecation seen in imposterism. This distinction helps explain why some high achievers suffer from anxiety and procrastination while others maintain a robust, if sometimes unrealistic, self-view.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886925005914

This is cool science, even if it’s an”obvious” result. Anecdote: Like a lot of professionals, I struggled with what I’d call pretty typical imposter syndrome. Relatively successful in terms of title/rank, money, respect for the most part – but only recently “proved myself” by getting a big deal across the finish like. Career-defining type thing, and it felt great…and I could feel that imposter syndrome wash away almost immediately. The “perfection” I sought certainly helped me reach that level, but now I can recognize how and where I can let the foot off the pedal in some respects next time, because I don’t have the insecurity around each aspect of the thing being in some way that I erroneously expected.