Imposter Syndrome: The Paradox of Competent People Who Can't See Their Own Success

You've just received a promotion, and your first thought is: 'They'll figure out I don't deserve this.' This episode traces imposter syndrome from its origins in Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes' 1978 study of successful women to its current prevalence affecting 62% of knowledge workers. We explore the specific cognitive distortions involved—particularly attribution bias—and why perfectionism and high standards paradoxically make it harder to internalize success. This episode was generated with AI assistance.