destroying impostor phenomenon in code4lib and ourselves
TRANSCRIPT
Destroying Impostor Phenomenon in Code4Lib
and Ourselves
Dominique “Dom” BortmasMetadata Librarian | University of South Florida
Code4Lib 2017 | 3-7-2017
About Me
• Dominique “Dom” Bortmas• MLIS: Kent State University, 2015• Metadata Librarian, University of
South Florida• MLIS Instructor
• Kent State University• Dominican University
What is Imposter Phenomenon?
• AKA: Imposter Syndrome, Fraud Syndrome• An observed anxiety caused by one’s feelings of fraudulence, fear of
being exposed as a fraud, and inability to internalize personal achievement.
Who has Imposter Phenomenon?
• Anyone can have IP.• Spans beyond age, experience.• Potentially higher rates of IP for perfectionists.• Potentially higher rates of IP for minorities.
What isn’t Imposter Phenomenon?
• Not a fraud or unqualified professional
• Not occasional feelings of self-doubt or anxiety
• Not a disorder or diagnosis (APA)
Imposter Phenomenon: Negative Impact
• Stress• Anxiety• Self-doubt• Limits professional development• Limits enjoyment of work
Survey Overview• Determine levels of IP throughout community
• Determine impact of IP on Code4Lib participation and attendance
Design
• Determine levels of IP throughout community• Determine impact of IP on Code4Lib participation and attendance
• Demographics• Clance & Imes’ Imposter Phenomenon Scale (IP Scale)• Perfectionist Self Presenting Scale (PSPS)• Code4Lib awareness• Code4Lib participation
Survey Distribution
• Audience: Librarians & Information Professionals, specifically within “technical” areas of librarianship.
• Survey distributed to various, relevant list serves.• Code4Lib• LITA• ALCTS
Participants by GenderParticipants by Gender
Men
Women
Other
No response
79 (63%)
41 (33%)
Participants by Years of ExperienceParticipants' Years of Experience
0 to 33 to 56 to 1011 to 1516 to 2021 and up
20 (16%)
14 (11%)
18 (14%) 12 (10%)
33 (26%)
28 (22%)
Clance & Imes’ IP Scale
• Created by Clance & Imes in 1985.• Developed to determine levels of IP.
• Citation: The Impostor Phenomenon: When Success Makes You Feel Like A Fake (pp. 20-22), by P.R. Clance, 1985, Toronto: Bantam Books. Copyright 1985 by Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D., ABPP. Reprinted by permission.
IP Scale: Sample Statements• Sometimes I feel or believe that my success in my life or in my job has
been the result of some kind of error.
• At times, I feel my success has been due to some kind of luck.
• Sometimes I’m afraid others will discover how much knowledge or ability I really lack.
• It’s hard for me to accept compliments or praise about my intelligence or accomplishments.
• I can give the impression that I’m more competent than I really am.
Calculating IP Scale Score
• To calculate score, add together the numbers of the responses to each statement.
• Possible total points: 100
IP Scale Scoring
•No IP – Low IP: 40 or below•Moderate IP: 41-60•Frequent IP: 61-80
• Intense IP: 80+
Perfectionist Self Presenting Scale
• Created by Paul L. Hewitt & Gordon L. Flett in 2003.• “A measure of the interpersonal expression of perfectionistic behavior
including perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection”.
• Citation: Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., Sherry, S. B., Habke, M., Parkin, M., et al. (2003). The interpersonal expression of perfection: Perfectionistic self-presentation and psychological distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(6), 1303-1325. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.84.6.1303
PSPS: Sample Statements• I must always appear to be perfect.• Errors are much worse if they are made in public rather than in
private.• It would be awful if I made a fool of myself in front of others.• I never let others know how hard I work on things.• I need to be seen as perfectly capable in everything I do.• I strive to look perfect to others.
Calculating PSPS Score
• “Rate your agreement with each of the statements using the following ‘disagree strongly…agree strongly scale’.”
• To calculate score, add together the numbers of the responses to each statement. The higher the score, the higher the levels of perfectionism.
Survey ResultsIP scores + PSPS scores
Average IP Score
66.977• No IP – Low IP: 40 or below
• Moderate IP: 41-60• Frequent IP: 61-80
• Intense IP: 80+
IP Scores by Gender
Intense Frequent Moderate No/low0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
IP Scores by GenderMen Women Other No response
IP Type
Part
icip
ants
IP Scores by GenderIP Scores: Men
Intense FrequentModerate No/low
IP Score: Women
Intense FrequentModerate No/low
IP Scores: Other
Intense FrequentModerate No/low
IP Scores: No response
Intense FrequentModerate No/low
IP Scores by Years of Experience
0 to 3 3 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 and up0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
IP by Years of Experience
Intense Frequent Moderate Low
Experience, in years
Parti
cipa
nts
Code4Lib ParticipationComparing IP and Feelings about Code4Lib
Feelings about Code4Lib Participation
“I feel out of place”
None of the time
Some of the time
Good part of the time
Most of the time
All of the time0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
"I feel out of place"
No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP
frequency of feeling
parti
cpan
ts
“I would feel out of place”
None of the time
Some of the time
Good part of the time
Most of the time
All of the time0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
"I would feel out of place"
No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP
frequency of feeling
parti
cpan
ts
“I question my abilities”
None of the time
Some of the time
Good part of the time
Most of the time
All of the time0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
"I question my abilities"
No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP
frequency of feeling
parti
cpan
ts
“I would question my abilities”
None of the time
Some of the time
Good part of the time
Most of the time
All of the time0123456789
10
"I would question my abilities"
No/Low IP Moderate IP Frequent IP Intense IP
frequency of feeling
parti
cpan
ts
Conclusion of findings
• IP influences feelings and behaviors in Code4Lib.• Participants who have attended Code4Lib had lower instances of
negative feelings compared to those who have not attended.
Combatting IP in Ourselves
Acknowledge it’sImposter Phenomenon.
Acknowledge you’re not alone.
Acknowledge your role in your success.
Acknowledge you’ll fail.
(and that’s okay!)
Acknowledge IP is holding you back.
Avoid comparing yourself to others.
Focus on providing value.
Do your research.Read!
Talk about it.
Ask for help.
Journal reflection&
Positive feedback reflections
Take action!
Combatting IP in Others
Encourage others.
Help others succeed.
Serve as a mentor.
Questions?