An Adventure of Two Fakers

Imposter Syndrome: Dance of Undercover Spies

Sometimes we feel like we are secret actors in our inner world. Even if we are successful, we tremble with the worry that "my mask will fall off at any moment" and we question our own abilities. This is Imposter Syndrome.

Although Imposter Syndrome was named by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, it was actually a condition that had been present in people's lives for a long time. Clance and Imes discovered internal strife while studying this phenomenon, particularly in successful female students.

Those who suffer from this syndrome are like secret spies. While everyone thinks they are successful and smart on the outside, they whisper inside, "Actually, I'm a fraud." They attribute their success to luck or the help of others, and they think they do not deserve praise. They are in a constant state of criticism and self-humiliation.

Dunning-Kruger Syndrome: Noisy Comedians

What about on the opposite stage? The loud comedians of Dunning-Kruger Syndrome … Here they are, thinking they are much brighter than they really are. But over time, reality unmasks their egos.

The Dunning-Kruger effect, or syndrome, was described in a 1999 study by social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger. This phenomenon was discovered in a series of experiments conducted to examine people's tendency to evaluate their own knowledge and skills.

David Dunning and Justin Kruger were conducting research in psychology at Cornell University. First, they observed that people who considered themselves knowledgeable were unable to make a realistic assessment of the knowledge and skills they actually possessed. In our country, this situation is also called ignorant courage.

People suffering from this syndrome are like comedians. They think they are much smarter and more skillful than they actually are. They ignore their mistakes, and even when it is obvious that they are wrong, they choose plausible means to justify themselves. They can infuriate those around them with their arrogant attitude.

The Thin Line Between Stories: Which One Is Your Story?

It's important to know which one it is. Imposter Syndrome or Dunning-Kruger Syndrome? Knowing yourself is the first step to getting started. In both cases, awareness and acceptance are important.

My story

What made me write this article was my own experiences. Imposter syndrome often catches up with me when I write and shakes my self-confidence. 'I have nothing to tell,' I say to myself. 'While there are dozens of texts written by experts on the subject, how meaningful can mine be?' I feel great joy and passion while writing, but I feel the need to constantly check the information I provide. This causes me to become dissatisfied with the writing process. I feel like I can't find anything to contribute from my own perspective and I'm hesitant to share.

I am moving forward with determination to deal with this. Despite my concerns, I am trying to learn to boldly share my ideas and experiences, be open to criticism and challenge my fears.

I sometimes envy people with Dunning-Kruger syndrome. When you're in a meeting trying to organize complex thoughts and put them into a form that everyone can understand, they can suddenly come up and say the first thing that comes to their mind, and somehow it works. We cannot always wait for the perfect moment, it is often important to make a courageous start.

But in my opinion, the disadvantages of Dunning-Kruger syndrome are even greater. Imagine, situations where such a person can manage people, coach them, or even run a company with the knowledge and skills. Of course, even if it's ignorant courage, it can sometimes work. However, I'm not very hopeful about how successful its results will be.

In any scene, no matter what mood you are in...

Remember, every scene is different and each actor has a unique role. In Imposter Syndrome, remembering yourself is critical. In Dunning-Kruger Syndrome, it may be necessary to be a little more humble. Either way, hold your place on stage to discover and develop your own potential

Note: This article is for entertainment purposes only and a specialist should be consulted for any diagnosis or treatment.

With love,

#imposter #dunningkruger #psychology #personaldevelopment #success #self-confidence