JAO Colloquium

"Impostor Syndrome" – Paola Pinilla –

Imposter syndrome --- a condition characterized by the persistent belief that one is not good enough for the role they have, only ended up there by luck or deception, and that it is only a matter of time before they are discovered to be a fraud --- seems to be a fairly pervasive issue in academia. Yet, despite it's prevalence and the growing conversation about it, there is still a significant lack of awareness --- when it is described to them, many people are surprised by how closely it represents their own experience, and surprised to learn that it is a recognized and well-studied condition that affects other people as well.

This workshop aims to combat this lack of awareness. It will consist of a mixture of presented slides and active exercises, with the intent to
• present information about and raise awareness of the imposter syndrome in academia
• help participants better identify, understand, and engage with their own imposter thoughts
• give participants a chance to talk to others about their experiences with imposter syndrome, in a safe environment
• give participants a solid foundation on which to build future understanding, and continue discussing these things and supporting each other, on their own
Based on our past experience, it doesn't take much exposure to or knowledge about this subject to potentially make a big difference in people's lives; and the more people know about it and talk about, the easier it will be for all of us to deal with it.