Debugging Self-Doubt: Fixing the Imposter Syndrome

Diana Scharf • August 23, 2024 • Laravel Live Denmark
Debugging Self-Doubt Fixing the Imposter Syndrome

Diana Scharf Full-Stack Code Witch Beyond Code dianaweb.dev pinkary.com/@dianawebdev !
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@dianawebdev This is me– Who are you?

@dianawebdev Have you heard of »Imposter Syndrome« before?

@dianawebdev »Imposter phenomenon is the situation in which […] successful
individuals paradoxically believe they are frauds who ultimately will fail and be unmasked as incompetent.« American Psychological Association (APA)

@dianawebdev Do you know someone who is affected by Imposter
Syndrome?

@dianawebdev … is that someone yourself?

The »Imposter« @dianawebdev

82% of all people experience Imposter Syndrome at least once

@dianawebdev

@dianawebdev »The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women - Dynamics
and Therapeutic Intervention« Pauline Rose Clance & Suzanne Imes Georgia State University, 1978

Researching the bug • Initial study focused on 150+ high-achieving
women: Respected professionals with PhDs, top students • Believed their success was due to luck, not skills • Resulted in anxiety, stress and self-doubt • Later research found no gender-speciﬁc di!erences • Dynamic condition, can come in waves

Researching the bug • High achievers with signiﬁcant evidence of
their abilities • Dismissal of praise and downplaying positive evaluations • Engagement in behaviors to avoid »detection« • Attribution of success to hard work, luck, networking, or »being at the right place, at the right time« @dianawebdev

@dianawebdev

@dianawebdev Competence Types of »Imposters« according to Dr. Valerie Young

@dianawebdev The Perfectionist

@dianawebdev The Superhuman

@dianawebdev The Natural Genius

@dianawebdev The Soloist

@dianawebdev The Expert

@dianawebdev … aren’t humans rational?

@dianawebdev Systemic bias: Being a woman in tech

@dianawebdev Fixing the bug

@dianawebdev Therapy.

@dianawebdev Stop comparing yourself with others.

@dianawebdev Compare your self to your past self.

@dianawebdev Time equals progress. Embrace it.

@dianawebdev Be careful with »social« media.

@dianawebdev »Good vibes only« - The Lambo Guy (Taylor Otwell)

@dianawebdev Search for a real community.

@dianawebdev Larabelles A community for PHP and Laravel developers under-represented
due to their gender www.larabelles.com

@dianawebdev Don’t meet your heroes.

@dianawebdev Meet your heroes.

@dianawebdev Engage with a supportive community.

@dianawebdev Learning Diary

@dianawebdev A learning diary is evidence of your progress over
time.

@dianawebdev Focus on the process.

@dianawebdev What does it mean to be a developer?

@dianawebdev Hustle, hot takes, ego culture

@dianawebdev Flow, curiosity, community $

@dianawebdev Development is about flow and purpose.

@dianawebdev Own you whoops+"; r mistakes.

@dianawebdev Development is about flow, curiosity and purpose.

@dianawebdev (We all know by now that Di really loves
programming.)

@dianawebdev Refuse to let it hold you back.

@dianawebdev »Am I even good enough of an imposter to
talk about imposter syndrome?«

@dianawebdev

@dianawebdev One last thing:

@dianawebdev Life is more than your job.

@dianawebdev We are so tiny.

@dianawebdev Find something that allows you to be human.

@marcelpociot

@adamwathan

@gonedark

@dianawebdev Life is more than your job.

@dianawebdev »Nobody is thinking you're an imposter. They are busy
thinking about themselves.« - Ryan Holiday

@dianawebdev Thank you! dianaweb.dev/talk/fixing-imposter- syndrome

Debugging Self-Doubt: Fixing the Imposter Syndrome

Debugging Self-Doubt: Fixing the Imposter Syndrome

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