Date: 17/02/2025
Author Bio: Mollie Ruler, University of Southampton
Mollie is a first-year PhD student at the University of Southampton, specialising in the politics of criminal justice reform. Her research focuses on understanding the persistence of the prison crisis and identifying how to obtain the public support and political will required to drive substantive, long-term solutions. More broadly, her academic interests span the intersection of law, social psychology, and criminal justice. Specifically, how these disciplines can be integrated to examine resistance to prison reform and opposition to offender rehabilitation. Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue a career within academia, the third sector, and/or the Ministry of Justice.
Blog:
As I sat brainstorming ideas for this blog post, I found myself questioning why I—a first-year PhD student just four months into my candidature—had any authority to write about overcoming imposter syndrome. The irony wasn’t lost on me, and I chuckled to myself. Imagine that: imposter syndrome about writing about imposter syndrome.
What Is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is a psychological state characterised by a persistent and unfounded sense of self-doubt about one’s accomplishments or skills, despite evidence of competence (Bravata et al., 2020). It’s an almost unavoidable part of the PhD journey, with research suggesting that between 50% and 75% of PhD students exhibit symptoms (Maftei et al., 2021; Van de Velde et al., 2019; Neufeld et al., 2023). These include, but are not limited to, the belief that their achievements are merely due to luck or the perception that they are presenting a facade of competence. Unfortunately, imposter syndrome is linked to increased stress, feelings of depression, and even illness (Sverdlik et al., 2020). Small wonder, then, that graduate students are six times more likely to experience mental health issues than the general population (Evans et al., 2018).
Whilst I certainly experience imposter syndrome, I wouldn’t say I struggle with it. I seem to belong to the self-assured (or, dare I say, cocky) 25%. I manage to silence those nagging doubts when they arise—hence my motivation for writing this blog post. Instead of exploring the psychological roots or potential pitfalls of my confidence (I’ll save that for therapy), I want to share insights from my own experience as a PhD student. My goal is to offer reassurance that you’re not alone in feeling this way, while also providing some (hopefully) helpful tips to tackle this “nasty beast.”
Navigating the “Tween” Space of Academia
PhD students occupy a unique and often ambiguous space within academia—what I like to call the “tween” phase. We’re no longer typical students, but we’re not fully staff either. It’s much like that awkward age when you’re too old for 12-rated films but not quite ready for those rated 15. This dual identity fuels uncertainty, making it easy to feel like a fraud and demands a constant balancing act, shifting between the roles of learner and expert. Trying to reconcile the confidence that we’ve earned our place as PhD researchers with the humbling reality of how much we still don’t know.
Not long ago, I found myself in a departmental meeting discussing the funding environment post-PhD, with a focus on how to secure funding and navigate the administrative and bureaucratic challenges of managing large-scale research projects. The term “project manager” kept coming up, eventually becoming central to the conversation. Feeling a bit lost, I raised my hand and asked what exactly a project manager does. After receiving my answer, the PhD student sitting next to me leaned over and said, “Thank God you asked—I had no idea either.”
If I hadn’t asked, I would have left the meeting both confused and believing I was the only one in the dark. Which brings me to my first lesson:
Lesson 1: Always ask the question
Don’t let the fear of looking uninformed stop you from seeking clarity. By asking, you gain knowledge and, often, help others who are just as unsure.
The Only Thing That Would Make You a Fraud Is Knowing Too Much
When imposter syndrome hits, it can help to remind yourself of what it really means to be a fraud:
Fraud = “A person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.”
Now, let us consider what it means to be a PhD student.
Your work is inherently about exploring something no one has fully understood before. Therefore, if you knew everything at the outset, your research would be redundant. You’re also enrolled in a doctoral training programme designed to develop your skills. If you already possessed all the expertise required, you wouldn’t need the programme—you’d already be a postdoc or principal investigator.
So, what would make you a fraud? Knowing everything!
Lesson 2: Don’t let the fear of being a fraud cause you to act like one
Reposition the things you don’t know, as things you don’t know yet. The purpose of you being where you are is to learn new things. Not knowing doesn’t make you a fraud – it makes you a researcher!
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
As the saying goes, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And, admittedly, this is something I’m all too familiar with—being someone who thrives on competition, I often find myself falling into the trap of comparing my progress to others.
But here’s the thing: your project is unique and your experience carrying it out will be equally so. Your project, skills, and goals are not the same as anyone else’s, so comparisons are neither fair nor helpful. We’re academics, after all… we know that comparisons are only valid so long as the conditions are controlled to make them meaningful. Furthermore, just because someone seems more knowledgeable or confident, it doesn’t mean they aren’t having an otherwise similar experience to you. We’re all navigating this journey in our own way.
Lesson 3: Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s
You wouldn’t judge a fish’s swimming ability by comparing it to a bird trying to fly underwater. Similarly, don’t measure your worth against someone whose experience and expertise differ wildly from yours.
Actionable Takeaways to Combat Imposter Syndrome:
- Always ask the question.
- Don’t let the fear of being a fraud cause you to act like one.
- Comparison is the thief of joy—don’t do it.
If you’ve made it this far, I hope this blog has resonated with you. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Embrace what you don’t know, ask for help when needed, and celebrate the fact that you’re here—learning, growing, and contributing to the world of research.
A huge thank you to the editorial team and the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP) for giving me the chance to share my thoughts.
Good luck and keep going—you’ve got this!
References:
Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., … & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: a systematic review. Journal of general internal medicine, 35, 1252-1275.
Sverdlik, A., Hall, N. C., & McAlpine, L. (2020). PhD imposter syndrome: Exploring antecedents, consequences, and implications for doctoral well-being. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 15, 737-758.
Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T., & Vanderford, N. L. (2018). Evidence for a mental health crisis in graduate education. Nature biotechnology, 36(3), 282-284.
Maftei, A., Dumitriu, A., & Holman, A. C. (2021). ”They will discover I’m a fraud!” The imposter syndrome among psychology students. Studia Psychologica, 63(4), 337-351.
Neufeld, A., Babenko, O., Lai, H., Svrcek, C., & Malin, G. (2023). Why do we feel like intellectual frauds? A self-determination theory perspective on the impostor phenomenon in medical students. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 35(2), 180-192.
Van de Velde, J., Levecque, K., Mortier, A., & De Beuckelaer, A. (2019). Why PhD students in Flanders consider quitting their PhD. ECOOM BRIEFS, (20), 1-5.
