Are you feeling like an Imposter in academia?
Good, you share something with A Einstein, M Curie and 70% of #ScienceTwitter.
Imposter syndrome is built on 3 psychological effects:
- Dunning-Kruger Effect
- Confirmation Bias
- Modesty Bias
This 🧵 is about disarming them⬇️
Good, you share something with A Einstein, M Curie and 70% of #ScienceTwitter.
Imposter syndrome is built on 3 psychological effects:
- Dunning-Kruger Effect
- Confirmation Bias
- Modesty Bias
This 🧵 is about disarming them⬇️
🌩️ Dunning-Kruger Effect
"Knowing very little about a thing leads you to overestimate your abilities"
But: The more you know, the easier something seems, thus you start overestimating others abilities.
Or underestimating yours: You feel like an imposter BECAUSE you excel.
"Knowing very little about a thing leads you to overestimate your abilities"
But: The more you know, the easier something seems, thus you start overestimating others abilities.
Or underestimating yours: You feel like an imposter BECAUSE you excel.
🌩️ Confirmation Bias
"Tendency to seek confirmation, for what you believe in."
Once we start feeling like an imposter, we subconsciously seek out confirmation for it and thus "feed" the problem.
@DrJoeDispenza calls it "Addiction to failure"
"Tendency to seek confirmation, for what you believe in."
Once we start feeling like an imposter, we subconsciously seek out confirmation for it and thus "feed" the problem.
@DrJoeDispenza calls it "Addiction to failure"
🌩️Modesty Bias
"Outsource successes, but privatise failures"
A consequence of confirmation bias.
It makes us deny all evidence against our imposter syndrome, thus locking us into the prison of feeling worthless.
"Outsource successes, but privatise failures"
A consequence of confirmation bias.
It makes us deny all evidence against our imposter syndrome, thus locking us into the prison of feeling worthless.
https://twitter.com/ryanharby/status/1143899331617087490
💡Understand those 3 effects and observe them every time you feel anxious.
The new mindset to adopt form these insights is:
Your subconscious is an OPPONENT working against you - not out of malice, but out of habit.
We need to find ways to PERSUADE it otherwise.
The new mindset to adopt form these insights is:
Your subconscious is an OPPONENT working against you - not out of malice, but out of habit.
We need to find ways to PERSUADE it otherwise.
⚡️Strategy #1: Ask for Feedback
This will help understand how good you are at your work already and dissolve the modesty bias.
✅Do's:
- Ask with confidence
- Be vulnerable
⛔️Don'ts:
- Self-deprecation
- Take personally - it's about your behaviour, not you.
2 examples:
This will help understand how good you are at your work already and dissolve the modesty bias.
✅Do's:
- Ask with confidence
- Be vulnerable
⛔️Don'ts:
- Self-deprecation
- Take personally - it's about your behaviour, not you.
2 examples:
✅Hi XYZ,
I was hoping to get your perspective on my presentation that I gave last week. I'm trying to improve my public speaking skills and I would appreciate any specific feedback you have on what I did well and what I could improve upon.
Thank you for your time and help.
I was hoping to get your perspective on my presentation that I gave last week. I'm trying to improve my public speaking skills and I would appreciate any specific feedback you have on what I did well and what I could improve upon.
Thank you for your time and help.
⛔️Hi XYZ,
I'm really struggling with my presentation skills and I feel like I'm not very good at it. Do you think I did okay during my presentation last week?
I just really need some reassurance right now.
I'm really struggling with my presentation skills and I feel like I'm not very good at it. Do you think I did okay during my presentation last week?
I just really need some reassurance right now.
⚡️Strategy #2: Objectively Record Achievements
Your Confirmation Bias won't let you notice your achievements.
You have to trick it with the rational mind: Every week record WHAT you have done and review the previous week.
But, be creative about HOW you write it.
Example:
Your Confirmation Bias won't let you notice your achievements.
You have to trick it with the rational mind: Every week record WHAT you have done and review the previous week.
But, be creative about HOW you write it.
Example:
💡Imagine your project is a person and you are their caretaker. (How would they look btw? 🤩)
This person now has to write a positive review about you:
"Ilya really cleaned up the calendar this week."
"He read me 25 papers this week."
Emotionality persuades the subconscious
This person now has to write a positive review about you:
"Ilya really cleaned up the calendar this week."
"He read me 25 papers this week."
Emotionality persuades the subconscious
⚡️ Strategy #3: Debate with your thoughts
Do you believe everything people tell you or debate tooth and nail?
Your mind says "Not good enough" - get into a debate with it: "Why?"
Asking "Why?" 5x in a row, makes false beliefs melt into ludicrous nonsense - easier to let go of.
Do you believe everything people tell you or debate tooth and nail?
Your mind says "Not good enough" - get into a debate with it: "Why?"
Asking "Why?" 5x in a row, makes false beliefs melt into ludicrous nonsense - easier to let go of.
Summary
⚡️ Fight the Dunning-Kruger effect & Modesty Bias by asking for feedback in a constructive way.
⚡️Eliminate Confirmation Bias by recording achievements
⚡️Debate your thoughts like you would debate politics, expose their falsity.
⚡️ Fight the Dunning-Kruger effect & Modesty Bias by asking for feedback in a constructive way.
⚡️Eliminate Confirmation Bias by recording achievements
⚡️Debate your thoughts like you would debate politics, expose their falsity.
Bonus strategy: "Fake it, before you make it".
Your actions define your feelings and vice versa. Everything is connected.
📣Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, you're not alone: Comment your #MentalHealth strategies below.
❤️Heart & RT comments to inspire others.
Your actions define your feelings and vice versa. Everything is connected.
📣Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, you're not alone: Comment your #MentalHealth strategies below.
❤️Heart & RT comments to inspire others.
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