Answer quickly and honestly, about how you usually are, not how you would like to be. There are no right answers.
What this test measures
The impostor phenomenon was first described by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978: capable, often high-achieving people who believe they are not as competent as others think, and fear being exposed.
This test uses 15 original statements written for Inner Map, covering three facets: feeling like a fraud, discounting success, and overcompensating. It is not affiliated with the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale.
How it works
Five statements per facet, including reversed items. Each facet gets a score from 0 to 100 and your overall level is the average.
What you get
Your overall level, your three pattern scores, how the imposter cycle works, first steps for your strongest pattern, and a free audiobook matched to your result.
The three Inner Map levels
Your privacy
Inner Map calculates your result entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never sold and never used for advertising. There is no account to create and no email to give.
Frequently asked questions
What is imposter syndrome?
A persistent feeling of being a fraud despite evidence of competence, first described by Clance and Imes in 1978. It is not a diagnosis but a common experience.
How common is imposter syndrome?
Very common. Studies suggest a large share of people experience imposter feelings at some point, especially in new roles or high-achieving environments.
How do I stop feeling like a fraud?
Talk about it, separate feelings from facts, keep a record of what you have achieved, and practice accepting compliments without minimizing them.
Is imposter syndrome linked to anxiety?
Often. Imposter feelings frequently travel with anxiety and perfectionism, which is why the result suggests resources on both.
Sources
- Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241-247.
- Bravata, D. M., et al. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: a systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252-1275.
Read the full Inner Map methodology.
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