IMPOSTER SYNDROME THROUGH IKS LENS: AHAṂKĀRA DISTORTION IN HIGH ACHIEVERS

Abstract

Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their own achievements and believe that their successes do not accurately reflect their true abilities. Instead, they often attribute their accomplishments to external factors such as luck, the effort they exert compared to others, or their ability to influence how others perceive them (Clance and Imes, 1978). In today’s academic environment, high-achieving students are particularly vulnerable to impostor syndrome. For many of these individuals, the pursuit of excellence is a fundamental aspect of their identity, which can lead them to struggle with accepting anything less than their highest standards (Nordmo and Samara, 2009). Moreover, external measures of academic success are often unstable and carry a risk of failure, making students even more susceptible to feelings of inadequacy.