Expecting the Same: Impostor Phenomenon, Stigma Internalization, and Student’s Perception of Future Success

Presenter: Paige E. Turcotte

Faculty Sponsor: Eric W. Mania

School: Quinsigamond Community College

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, Auditorium, A2

ABSTRACT

Community college (CC) students persistently face stigma regarding their academic capabilities. The present study investigates whether stereotype internalization (SI) among CC students correlates with development of impostor phenomenon (IP). A secondary focus investigates the effects of IP on academic success using comparisons between current and expected GPAs. Participants (N=1726) took a computerize survey evaluating their experience with stigmatization of community college such as SI as well as their level of IP among other factors surrounding academic perception and wellbeing. Results of the first analysis found a strong positive correlation between IP and SI. Further analysis was performed through a 2(imposter phenomenon) x 2(academic success: current versus future) repeated measures ANOVA. Findings from the secondary analysis explored whether IP relates differently to current GPA versus expected GPA. The conclusion of this analysis revealed that there was a significant interaction between the two evaluated variables. However, results did not support the hypothesized relationship between one’s level of IP and their current versus expected GPA. Instead, these unexpected results revealed that while students with low levels of IP expected a significantly greater GPA than their current GPA, those with high levels of IP expected about the same GPA as they currently had. The findings imply that those with IP tend to base their expected performance on tangible evidence while those with low levels of IP tend to show some level of self-serving bias in how they perceive expected academic success.


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