NCJ Number
214880
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 395-405
Date Published
June 2006
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study obtained data from a sample of 11th and 12th graders in order to identify predictors of the Imposter Phenomenon (IP), which refers to a person's persistent belief that any awards/rewards, success, and social acceptance are unwarranted and are due primarily to deception or other external factors rather than his/her intellect, skill, hard work, or genuine personality characteristics.
Abstract
The study found that the lack of "friend support" (having a close friend with whom one shares feelings) was associated with IP for both girls and boys. In addition, girls apparently needed the support of parents, teachers, and classmates in order to have a protective buffer against IP. Adolescent girls needed to connect with peers as a group and with a close friend in order to feel genuine about themselves and avoid feeling like imposters. Girls also needed a sense of personal dependability in order to develop feelings of authenticity rather than feelings of being an imposter. Boys, on the other hand, apparently depend exclusively on the support of a close friend in order to feel authentic about themselves. Among social support variables, parent support was not a significant predictor of IP scores. Study participants were 136 (71 females and 65 males) 11th and 12th graders from two suburban high schools in Tulsa, OK. All participants completed a Demographic Data Form and four questionnaires. The questionnaires were the Harvey Imposter Phenomenon Scale, the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, the Multidimensional Test of Self-Concept, and the Social Support Scale of Children and Adolescents. 4 tables and 33 references