Impostor syndrome is the persistent feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy despite evident success.
Individuals experiencing this often believe they are deceiving others about their capabilities and live with the fear of being exposed as a fraud. This internal struggle can be better understood through a framework that focuses on basic human needs and how behaviour is driven by our attempts to meet them.
At the heart of this perspective is the belief that all human behaviour is purposeful. People act in certain ways to fulfil core psychological needs: belonging, power, freedom, fun, and survival. Impostor syndrome is a misalignment between an individual’s internal ideal world and how they perceive their external environment in relation to these needs.
The Need for Belonging
and Connection
One of the strongest human drives is the need to feel accepted and connected to others. People with impostor feelings often struggle with the belief that they do not truly belong in the professional or academic communities they are part of. Even when they receive validation, they may interpret it as superficial or unearned. This perceived disconnect from others creates anxiety and fear, reinforcing the cycle of self-doubt.
The Need for Competence and Achievement
Another core need is the desire to feel competent, skilled, and recognized—what might be described as a healthy pursuit of power or influence. Those with impostor syndrome often set unrealistically high standards for themselves and see any shortcoming, however small, as proof of unworthiness. They may downplay accomplishments or attribute success to external factors like luck. In trying to meet the need for competence, they unintentionally
undermine their own sense of efficacy, leading to more stress and pressure.
Autonomy and the Inner World
Individuals are internally driven by the need to have control over their own lives. When someone with impostor syndrome feels like they are constantly performing or pretending to meet expectations, they may feel trapped or powerless. This disconnect between who they believe they truly are and the role they think they must play can lead to emotional exhaustion. Instead of acting from a place of self-determined purpose, they feel controlled by fear and the perceived judgments of others.
Reframing the
Internal Narrative
The path to easing impostor syndrome lies not in external validation but in reshaping the internal story. When people begin to understand that their feelings are a response to unmet psychological needs, they can start to change the way they view themselves and their experiences. For example, recognizing that the drive for perfection is actually a response to the need for security and competence can help a person soften their expectations and allow room for growth.
By focusing on internal motivations rather than external pressures, individuals can regain a sense of control over their self-perception. Building honest relationships, accepting one’s imperfections, and redefining success as personal progress rather than comparison are steps toward fulfilling the deeper needs that impostor syndrome obscures.
Understanding impostor syndrome through this needs-based lens helps reveal that it’s not a flaw, but a signal—an invitation to reassess what we’re striving for and why.
