User:Armiejane/Impostor syndrome

Further Studies on Students in the Academic Setting (Ethnic Groups/STEMM Undergraduates)

Imposter syndrome is a psychological term that refers to individuals who experience a behavioural pattern of doubting their skills and abilities despite evidence of success or achievement. Moreover, experiences of imposter syndrome was determined through a study on students studying in the University. It was determined that imposter syndrome is more prominent in student who are high achievers and in people who have religious minorities and ethnic backgrounds. Specifically, college/university students who are part of the minority were predicted to have shown imposter feelings, which were feelings that resulted based of their experiences of marginalization within the school institution.

The two studies indicated below presents that challenging experiences faced by minority students in the University, such that, their acceptance in the university becomes undermined and thus, causes them to feel undeserving or not worthy of being accepted. Although in reality, their acceptance alone shows their ability to advance themselves further in their education. However, due to their experience of alienation, they often feel a pressure of competition among the rest of other students and strive to aim higher in achieving grades.

A women expressing a sign of disappointment or doubt which is often experienced by people with imposter syndrome.

Undergraduate Students (Chicana/Latina) of the University of Nepantleras

In the United States in California, Chicana/Latina undergraduate students were the second largest majority to enroll in the university. And in their transition, they were faced with challenges in regard to the culture, and the institution. They were forced to navigate through certain cultural/racial challenges as well as with gender challenges, and in addition, they also experienced separation anxiety, considering that most Chicana/Latina students are away from their homeland and their family.

Chicana/Latina students experience culture shock after transitioning into a higher education institution that uphold white supremacy and whiteness, which resulted in them feeling isolated among others and it has impacted their sense of belonging. The theoretical concept of nepantla was introduced, meaning "a transitional in between space," which described Chincana/Latina students' experience with their transition and how it affected their identity. Nepantla is a painful experience for these minority students because despite having been accepted into the university, they are likely to question themselves and the initial beliefs they had in forming a new identity for themselves in a new context. Furthermore, it was also determined that these students feel incapable and inadequate and even feel like an imposter in a higher education.

It was through the concept of nepantla that Chicana/Latina students were able to express themselves and their struggles navigating through a different community of environment and institution and thus, this was an essential platform that revealed the concerns they had.

Imposter Syndrome Among Marginalized STEMM Undergraduates in the UK

In the UK, a study was done using a demographic survey on 27 STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) students who are underrepresented within the academic institution to identify their experiences within the school and more importantly, to determine the imposter dynamic feeling these students have making feel like a fraud despite their achievements. In students adjusting within their first year of university, interviewees have described their grades usually always being at the 'top of the class' to reaching an 'average/below average' after transitioning into university, which was described as a "painful identity shift" for others. During exams, it was also determined that some students experience imposter feeling wherein they start doubting themselves or feel the exam is not worth taking because they are not as good as others o they feel like failing the exam. Although in the end, they get a good mark they never expected to have achieved.

However, despite some achievements made from having imposter feelings, it still lingers on other students especially for those who experience/experienced microaggressions.