Impostor phenomenon in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Abstract

The impostor phenomenon (IP) is experienced widely in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) individuals are disproportionately underrepresented in STEM at all levels of education and employment. STEM fields emphasize academic brilliance or raw intellectual talent as a precursor to success, which could make these groups vulnerable to IP. This chapter summarizes literature on IP specifically in STEM fields. It starts with an overview of the demographic characteristics of STEM fields. The chapter then examines the psychometric properties of a popular scale on IP used specifically in STEM samples. It describes IP across academic ranks, among BIPOC individuals, and among other underrepresented groups in STEM. The chapter discusses IP occurring as a personality trait as well as a result of environmental influence and ends with strategies to manage or overcome IP as well as future directions of research.