Understanding the impostor phenomenon among MBA students

Abstract

Impostor phenomenon (IP) is common among people especially among students in hypercompetitive environments who would become future members of the workforce. Those who feel like impostor’s struggle with a lack of confidence even though they are competent and highly qualified. Prior literature has examined IP among managers in leadership positions. To our knowledge, studies have been done on different academic disciplines but there are no studies examining IP among management students, especially those who thrive in hypercompetitive environments and peer pressure. This study would focus primarily on Food and Agribusiness management students that would lead to an understanding of the psychology of future managers (in the agribusiness sector) and help find ways to develop a support system for the ‘at-risk’ groups. Competent high achievers who do not believe in their efforts leading to accomplishments sometimes experience IP. It is characterized by the notion that one has fooled others into overestimating their ability, not attributing one’s accomplishments to ability, and living with the fear of being discovered as a fraud.