The price of not belonging: The impostor phenomenon’s social stratification and its nexus to perceived discrimination and workplace belonging

Abstract

This study facilitates a sociological understanding of the impostor phenomenon, a trending topic in academia and beyond. It examines the social stratification of the impostor phenomenon, its relationship to perceived discrimination, and its relevance for workplace belonging. Using register-based data from 5509 German adults, the study conceptualizes the impostor phenomenon as an internalized barrier to social participation, drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s habitus concept and Erving Goffman’s notion of social stigma. This theoretical framework provides a nuanced lens to understand how the impostor phenomenon shapes opportunities for participation and belonging. Results from linear regression models indicate that members of social groups who have gained greater access to social participation since the 1970s—namely, women, immigrants, and first-generation academics—experience elevated impostor phenomenon intensity. Moreover, the impostor phenomenon is linked to higher levels of perceived discrimination in the domains of gender, social, and ethnic origin, and to lower levels of workplace belonging. By combining a sociological perspective with comprehensive empirical data, the study advances an understanding of how the impostor phenomenon reflects and reinforces patterns of social exclusion, highlighting its social and economic costs. These insights are crucial for understanding how impostor phenomenon experiences affect individuals’ sense of belonging and their participation in everyday life.