Charter-TIME: What Is Impostor Syndrome, and Is It All Bad?

First identified by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Clance in 1971 as the impostor phenomenon, the term impostor syndrome has been been used more frequently since 2015 in both research papers and Google searches, with dozens of articles either describing the phenomenon’s negative effects on job performance and mental health or offering practical guides on how to overcome it.

Often associated with negative feelings like fear and self-doubt, impostor syndrome is almost universally understood as detrimental to both our self esteem and our performance. Luminaries including former first lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, and actress Lupita N’yongo have all shared their struggles with it.

Now, a new study might indicate that it’s time to reframe the concept altogether.