I used to do this, it´s called lying. In particular, lying to one´s self. I did it mostly out of shame. Now I´m proud to admit when I´m at a loss or don´t know something, no matter what that may cost. I live life stress free because not only do I not lie to people, but mainly I don´t lie to myself. That´s the ticket here. Socrates´ example is key, for the more we learn the less we know. And this is real, so if someone is acting out the part of a genious or great cultivated person, be sure to know you´re face to face with a fraud.

Significant amount of research traces IS back to a tiger parent, namely huge pressure and excessive expectations of THE OTHERS, merely coming second in class once is a "calamity", AS EXPERIENCED BY THE CHILD of 8,9, or 10. Hence Olivia has a tiger mom in the book. It could be the reason that many of these children, who already have high analytical or creative IQs, achieve a lot, but the measurement against the world as against your won standards, takes a toll on self-esteem. People with IS have a gaping hole in their self-esteem, they are never good enough, no matter what they accomplish. Two brilliant students, boys, both of whom I knew personally (but not well), committed suicide at around 18 years of age, one in first year of medical school simply because a girl thwarted his efforts to get her to love him, and the other simply because once, just once, he was not first in class at a very high-achieving university. And then he was dead.

heroine

I believe khalling indicated that the hero of your book, not you, has IS.

Come to think of it, the one person who SHOULD feel this way, but clearly doesn't is the current President.

PSH got well-deserved acclaim for Doubt. In that film, the priest delivers a sermon (ironically played by PSH) at the beginning, titled "We all have doubts," and that then is the theme of the movie. But Im Syn is very different from having the occasional self-doubt.

I don't have IS. Never said I did,

One of the readers did compare The MC with the FC. See Amazon reviews (a Jason Lockwood)

Peeeuuuuu! Better get upwind.

Emanating most strongly from the direction of the nations capital...

There is a pervasive stench~~~

Indeed! :)

Ah, but it feels as if we are already... :(

I would not want to be under that!

Hahaha!

Most certainly

Heads up... :)

I believe it is natural for all to have some self doubt. Decades of interaction with others has reduced my own doubts. I have made it a primary value to be honest with myself and others. Having triumphed over most of my competitors has shown me who the real impostors were. Oh, I have some self doubt, but I no longer have time to entertain much of it. I have doubts about my doubts... :) Many of the examples in the article are people who many would say have been overly rewarded for their true contributions to society or their actual effort and skills required for same. That is perhaps at the root of their own feelings. In some cases this is a collectivist attitude. I am unworthy... well if you look at it one can see how they could feel that way. Do we reward those who develop a cure for a disease as handsomely as we do an actor for pretending? (I'm not a doctor , but I play one on TV). I have no problem with rewarding actors with what the market decides. I have a problem with producers having their just rewards diminished... the Dagny Taggarts, Hank Reardens and John Galts... There are true impostors, many are in government, may or may not know it, and are overly rewarded.

Hoffman starred in a quirky movie, "Synedoche, New York". The storyline centers on a theatrical director who receives a "genius grant" and uses it to build a full-size replica of New York, populated with actors, etc., all of which are supposed to be scripted and under his control. The whole thing unravels when the "characters" insist on having minds of their own.

Although Hoffman did not write or direct the film, it seems a perfect metaphor for his life. We might also look at his best-known role, Truman Capote, who was a lifelong impostor of sorts.