Turbulent Personality Types, Impostor Syndrome, and What to Do about It

Impostor syndrome is real. Okay, it’s not actually a legitimate medical diagnosis, but in the world of psychology, it is a recognized phenomenon.

Originally used to describe the emotional experience of the many women who shattered glass ceilings back in the 1970s, the term “impostor syndrome” is now broadly used to describe the feelings of self-doubt and insecurity that plague people who, deep down, don’t feel like they deserve to be where they are in life.

Maybe they’ve achieved professional or academic success that they can’t quite wrap their head around, or perhaps they find themselves with a social or economic status that doesn’t feel natural. The common thread is that these people don’t feel like they belong where they find themselves, and worse yet, they fear that they’ll be discovered as the frauds that they feel like they are.

For those suffering from this phenomenon, their education, years of dedication and effort, intelligence, and competence offer little reassurance. In their minds, they often chalk up their success to having the right connections, being in the right place at the right time, or sheer luck.

Does Impostor Syndrome Have Its Roots in Personality Type?

Studies have suggested that certain tendencies commonly associated with specific personality traits correlate to a higher likelihood of developing impostor syndrome. An inclination toward perfectionism, unstable self-confidence, high anxiety, self-consciousness, and feelings of shame can all come together to make someone feel like their success in life is based on an exaggerated myth of competency.

If you read between the lines there, you’ll notice that we’re talking about idiosyncrasies that often characterize the Turbulent personality trait.

Impostor syndrome can plague any personality type (because, let’s face it, no matter how confident you are, everyone has moments of weakness and self-doubt). But people who rely on the Turbulent Strategies of Constant Improvement (Introverted, Turbulent types) and Social Engagement (Extraverted, Turbulent types) are much more susceptible to its dangers.

Perfectionism

Turbulent personalities tend to operate with a restless and sometimes anxious need for perfection in everything that they do. This applies not only to the work that they produce but also to how they feel about themselves. They’re significantly more likely to feel overwhelmed by disappointment and are much more likely than Assertive types to feel like they will never live up to their own expectations, especially if they also have the Prospecting trait. This could potentially cause deep feelings of shame and regret at what they perceive to be their failures.

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Self-Confidence

All of those high expectations (and the feeling of never quite being good enough) can cause some serious issues when it comes to self-confidence. This is particularly true for Introverted Constant Improvers. These personalities are the most likely of all types to have low self-confidence in their intellectual, academic, and physical capabilities.

Introversion and Extraversion play an important role in self-confidence – almost as much as the Assertive and Turbulent traits do. In general, Extraverted types don’t tend to struggle as intensely with self-confidence. For Social Engagers, however, the Turbulent trait can still cause them to be more sensitive to other people’s opinions and perceived criticisms. Extraverted, Turbulent types are often good at masking their shaky self-confidence, so you may never know just how much they doubt their abilities.

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Shame

Low self-confidence and self-esteem can be regularly fueled by a nagging sense of shame – that feeling of being inferior, unfit, or inadequate. These deep-rooted insecurities often show up in relation to the psychological baggage that Turbulent types may carry around. They might feel ashamed of previous beliefs, past mistakes, or regrettable decisions that they’ve made. Personality types who also share the Feeling trait are particularly prone to struggling with this profoundly emotional facet of perfectionism.

Now for the Good News: Impostor Syndrome Can Be a Superpower

What? You read that right.

After reading the first part of this article, you might be feeling a little exposed or down on yourself. (Sorry about that.) The qualities described above can certainly present some challenges, especially for Turbulent personalities who have to learn to balance these traits alongside their emotional equilibrium.

But these qualities can also power Turbulent types beyond the sense of complacency that many Assertive personalities might end up settling into.

Perfectionism often fuels a drive for transformation and improvement – carrying people (sometimes seemingly against their will) out of their comfort zones. Reaching new heights in the professional and personal realms can be quite unsettling for Turbulent types, but it’s the natural consequence of always striving to do and be your best.

And those feelings of shame or unsteady self-confidence? We suggest rewrapping them in the context of self-awareness. Those traits form a bridge over the trap of arrogance that can stop more confident personalities from admitting that they still have a lot to learn.

If you are doubting just how powerful impostor syndrome can be, keep in mind that it is an affliction of high achievers. If you are struggling with it, consider yourself surrounded by admirable company. There are plenty of famous actors and musicians, notable politicians, highly successful business leaders, and other respected public figures who readily admit to suffering from it. They were all able to reach such incredible heights in their careers because they never settled into a confident sense of security.

Confronting Risk and Overcoming Impostor Syndrome

The main danger of impostor syndrome is the overwhelming fear of failure. While this fear can be the motor behind a person’s drive to succeed, it can also manifest as a strong aversion to risk. Introverted, Turbulent personality types (Constant Improvers) are particularly prone to feeling anxious when going out on a limb. Only about 40% of Constant Improvers agree that regular risk-taking is “worth it” to them, compared to about 77% of Assertive Extraverts (People Masters).

As anyone who has climbed to the top of their field can tell you, they had to take some risks to get there.

Turbulent personality types have a strong tendency to think a lot about potential negative consequences. This can be incredibly helpful in some respects, because it allows them to spot possible problems and proactively plan for theoretical inconveniences. But this tendency can also cause a lot of doubt and might lead to inaction. If you find yourself focusing more on a negative range of possible scenarios, it might be helpful to take some time to focus on all of the amazing positive possibilities that could result from a decision that takes you just beyond your comfort zone.

Mindfulness is the key to overcoming risk aversion and turning impostor syndrome into a superpower, instead of allowing it to hold you back.

Use mindfulness to:

Develop an awareness of your thoughts. At the end of each day, it’s helpful to spend some time identifying those moments where you felt embarrassed, uncomfortable, or insecure. Reflect on what circumstances triggered those feelings of self-doubt.
Acknowledge your self-doubt and try to let it go. This may feel easier said than done, but it’s worth remembering that despite all the pain that you’ve dealt with up until now, you’re still here, you’re still moving forward, and tomorrow is another day. Your accomplishments are yours to own – and if you need reassurance to move forward, just look at how far you’ve already come.
Learn to recognize when perfectionism is interfering with productivity. It can be easy to lapse into procrastination, but shifting – not necessarily lowering – your expectations can help you harness your attention to detail to your advantage.
Embrace failures and mistakes as learning opportunities. It’s perfectly normal to feel disappointment, regret, and even shame when you know that you could have done something differently. But those feelings can also help you identify the areas of your work where there is still room for improvement.

Remember, you never want to lose track of the big picture.

Don’t let your successes fall through the cracks. Celebrate what you’ve accomplished! Learn to see the proof that you are, indeed, an incredibly capable person.

Impostor Syndrome Can Impact Any Personality Type

When you find yourself feeling unworthy of your success or like a fraud about to be found out, it’s worth remembering that you are not alone. Impostor syndrome plagues people with every personality type. It can impact anyone in any area of their life, whether it be professional, academic, or social territory.

Each aspect of our personality manifests on a spectrum. Even personalities who rate as 90% Assertive have some Turbulent qualities. No one is immune to moments of self-doubt. The key to overcoming them is knowing how to work them in your favor.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve experienced impostor syndrome at some point in your life and how it impacted you.