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It seems to be a very 'millennial' syndrome. Were people complaining of imposter syndrome 20 or 30 years ago? I wonder if it's because people born after, say 19

It seems to be a very 'millennial' syndrome. Were people complaining of imposter syndrome 20 or 30 years ago? I wonder if it's because people born after, say 1990, didn't have to 'hack' on computers much growing up, and hence lack some of the environmental osmosis comfort level some older folks have. Or could it be that programming has proliferated enough as a profession, and programmers generally lack the social skills needed to mentor younger generations, that more people seem to be experiencing this syndrome these days?

thristian 8y ago
The article cites Wikipedia's "Impostor Syndrome" article: > The term was coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes. So yes, I imagine people were complaining of impostor syndrome 20 or 30 (or 40) years ago.
arghwhat 8y ago
I wouldn't call it "millennial" rather than "modern", and not just because I despise the American generation names. I believe impostor syndrome requires both a bright mind, a successful career in a mental labor job (academia, engineering, ...), and exposure to minds that seem brighter. I doubt impostor syndrome is much of a problem in physical labor jobs, as physical labor is easily observed, both by others and by yourself (you can't hide failure in installing a tire on a rim). Higher education, autodidactism through the internet and mental labor jobs are much more wide-spread than they were a generation or two ago. Here in Denmark, education inflation has basically made Ph.D.'s the norm. The extremely filtered connectivity of social networks only showing each others "best side" making them appear perfect, as well as a vast amount of information available on the internet from brilliant scholars making your knowledge seem insignificant, are great catalysts for an inferiority complex. Combine that with an accomplished career, and you have impostor syndrome.
chrisbennet 8y ago
I think the internet has increased the visibility of the experts in our profession. Before, you compared yourself to everyone you ever worked with and ignored the outliers like Knuth. Now we are constantly bombarded by so many blogs/examples of extremely talented individuals that it’s easier to think you’re way below “average”.

thristian 8y ago

The article cites Wikipedia's "Impostor Syndrome" article: > The term was coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes. So yes, I imagine people were complaining of impostor syndrome 20 or 30 (or 40) years ago.

arghwhat 8y ago

I wouldn't call it "millennial" rather than "modern", and not just because I despise the American generation names. I believe impostor syndrome requires both a bright mind, a successful career in a mental labor job (academia, engineering, ...), and exposure to minds that seem brighter. I doubt impostor syndrome is much of a problem in physical labor jobs, as physical labor is easily observed, both by others and by yourself (you can't hide failure in installing a tire on a rim). Higher education, autodidactism through the internet and mental labor jobs are much more wide-spread than they were a generation or two ago. Here in Denmark, education inflation has basically made Ph.D.'s the norm. The extremely filtered connectivity of social networks only showing each others "best side" making them appear perfect, as well as a vast amount of information available on the internet from brilliant scholars making your knowledge seem insignificant, are great catalysts for an inferiority complex. Combine that with an accomplished career, and you have impostor syndrome.

chrisbennet 8y ago

I think the internet has increased the visibility of the experts in our profession. Before, you compared yourself to everyone you ever worked with and ignored the outliers like Knuth. Now we are constantly bombarded by so many blogs/examples of extremely talented individuals that it’s easier to think you’re way below “average”.