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Imposterism Scale
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About Imposterism Scale
Scale Name
Imposterism Scale
Author Details
Leary, M. R.
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The impostor phenomenon refers to people who are objectively competent but feel the opposite and therefore fear being unmasked. In light of the strength and pervasiveness of the self-esteem motive, the impostor phenomenon presents an enigma because so-called impostors appear to lack this fundamental tendency for self-enhancement. According to previous work, impostors experience discomfort when they succeed, attribute their successes to factors other than their ability, and deny they are as competent as their behavior seems to indicate (Clance, 1985; Clance & Imes, 1978; Harvey & Katz, 1985).
The belief that they are not as competent as they appear to others leads these otherwise successful individuals to feel like an impostor or a fraud and to fear public exposure of their inadequacies. This Imposterism Scale combines items from three most common measures of Imposterism: The Impostor Phenomenon Scale (IPS; Harvey & Katz, 1985), the Impostor Test (IT; Clance, 1985), and the Perceived Fraudulence Scale (PFS; Kolligian & Sternberg, 1991).
The Imposterism Scale (also referred to as the Impostor Phenomenon Scale) is designed to assess individuals’ feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and self-doubt despite evidence of success or competence. These feelings are often referred to as the impostor phenomenon, where individuals believe their achievements are undeserved and fear being exposed as a “fraud.”
Imposterism is common among high-achieving individuals and is often linked with anxiety, perfectionism, and a fear of failure. The scale aims to capture the cognitive and emotional aspects of imposter syndrome, helping clinicians and researchers understand its prevalence and intensity in different populations.
This tool plays a crucial role in identifying individuals who may struggle with imposterism and could benefit from interventions that focus on self-acceptance and building confidence in one’s abilities.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Format: The Imposterism Scale consists of a series of self-report items, typically rated on a Likert scale. Respondents rate the degree to which they agree or disagree with statements related to feelings of fraudulence, self-doubt, and anxiety about being exposed as incompetent.
- Respondents: The scale is used primarily with adults, particularly in academic and professional settings where imposter syndrome is prevalent. However, it can be adapted for younger populations or other settings where achievement-related anxiety exists.
Reliability and Validity
The Imposterism Scale developed by Leary et al. (2000) has been shown to have good reliability and validity. It correlates with other psychological constructs like self-esteem, anxiety, and perfectionism, supporting its effectiveness in measuring imposter-related feelings.
The reliabilities of the three impostor scales were acceptable: IT, .90; IPS, .72, PFS, .88. The three measures correlated highly with one another: IT with IPS,r = .70; IT with PFS,r = .86; IPS with PFS,r = .76; PS < .001.For full psychometric information on this scale see Leary, M. R., Patton, K., Orlando, A., & Funk, W. W. (2000). The impostor phenomenon: Self-perceptions, reflected appraisals, and interpersonal strategies. Journal of Personality, 68, 725-756.
Available Versions
07-Items
Reference
Leary, M. R., Patton, K. M., Orlando, A. E., & Wagoner Funk, W. (2000). The impostor phenomenon: Self‐perceptions, reflected appraisals, and interpersonal strategies. Journal of personality, 68(4), 725-756.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Imposterism Scale measure?
It measures feelings of fraudulence, self-doubt, and anxiety related to the imposter phenomenon, where individuals believe their success is undeserved.
Who is the target population for the Imposterism Scale?
It is commonly used with high-achieving individuals in academic and professional settings but can be adapted for other populations who experience imposter syndrome.
How is the Imposterism Scale administered?
The scale is self-administered, with respondents rating the extent to which they agree or disagree with statements about feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
How are responses scored?
Responses are scored on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating stronger feelings of imposterism.
Is the Imposterism Scale reliable?
Yes, research shows that the scale has good reliability and validity in measuring imposter syndrome.
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