Frontiers in Psychology (Dec 2023)

The impostor phenomenon in the eye of knowledgeable others: the association of the impostor phenomenon with the judge’s accuracy

  • Fabio Ibrahim,
  • Erik Brill,
  • Tobias Meyberg,
  • Philipp Yorck Herzberg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1290686
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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This study examines whether a heightened impostor expression is associated with a judge’s assessment. The sample comprised n = 155 triads (target, mother, and a friend). Results indicated a slightly higher profile agreement between the target and mother (rraw = 0.47; rdistinct = 0.33) than a friend (rraw = 0.41; rdistinct = 0.23). The profile agreement was inversely correlated with the IPP total score, Competence Doubt, Alienation, and Other-Self Divergence (r = ≤ −0.29, p < 0.001), indicating reduced accuracy among judges when confronted with a heightened impostor expression. However, these relationships disappear once controlling for stereotype effects. Overall, this study reveals a negative association between the impostor expression and the other-self agreement, supporting the biasing self-presentation of impostors in the eye of others.

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