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Have you ever downplayed (贬低) your achievements, thinking you aren’t worthy of your success? If so, it’s likely that you have imposter syndrome (冒充者综合征).

你是否曾经贬低自己的成就，认为自己配不上这样的成就？如果是这样，你很可能患有“冒充者综合征”。

In a study published in 2022 by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, researchers found that the phenomenon of imposter syndrome transcends (超越) age, gender, and intelligence.

德国马丁·路德大学的哈勒·维滕贝格于2022年发表的一项研究显示，冒充者综合征的影响已经超越了年龄、性别和智力的界限。

downplay  /ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/  v.贬低

例句：The coach is downplaying the team's poor performance.

教练对这个队的拙劣表现不以为然。

——《牛津词典》

imposter   /ˈɪmpəʊstə/   n.假冒者

例句：He was an imposter, who  masqueraded  as a doctor.

他是个冒牌医生。

——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》

syndrome  /ˈsɪndrəʊm/   n.综合征

例句：This syndrome is associated with frequent coughing.

这种综合征与经常咳嗽有关。

——《牛津词典》

图源：千图网

While often labeled as a “syndrome”, imposter syndrome is not a clinical diagnosis (临床诊断) but a negative cognitive (认知的) pattern. People struggling with imposter syndrome frequently discount their achievements and attribute their success to chance rather than their own abilities or hard work. Sufferers often harbor thoughts such as “I am a failure” or “I must exert greater effort than my peers”.

虽然这种表现通常被称为“综合症”，但“冒充者综合征”不是一种临床病症，而是一种消极的认知模式。患者经常低估自己的成就，并将其归因于运气，而非自己的能力或努力。患者往往怀有“我是个失败者”或“我必须比同龄人付出更大的努力”等想法。

clinical  /ˈklɪnɪkl/  adj.临床的

例句：The new drug is undergoing clinical trials.

这种新药正在进行临床试验。

——《牛津词典》

cognitive  /ˈkɒɡnətɪv/   adj.认知的

例句：As children grow older, their cognitive processes become sharper.

孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。

——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》

exert   /ɪɡˈzɜːt/   v.努力

例句：In order to be successful he would have to exert himself.

他必须努力才能成功。

——《牛津词典》

In some cases, the imposter phenomenon can interfere with (干扰) a person’s mental health and overall functioning, leading to increased anxiety and depression. It may also affect a person’s performance. For example, if a black woman at a university job interview sees only portraits of white male leaders on the wall, she may perceive that the environment was not intended to be inclusive of individuals like herself.

在某些情况下，冒充者综合征会干扰一个人的心理健康和整体功能，导致焦虑和抑郁加剧。它也会影响个人的表现。例如，如果一名黑人女性在大学面试时只看到墙上白人男性领导人的肖像，她可能会认为环境并不会包容像她这样的人。

phenomenon  /fəˈnɒmɪnən/   n.现象

例句：The causes of the phenomenon are still incompletely understood.

造成这种现象的原因尚未彻底弄清。

——《牛津词典》

interfere   /ˌɪntəˈfɪə(r)/   v.干涉

例句：The police are very unwilling to interfere in family problems.

警方很不情愿插手家庭问题。

——《牛津词典》

function   /ˈfʌŋkʃnɪŋ/  n.功能

例句：The main function of the merchant banks is to raise capital for industry.

商业银行的主要职能是为产业融资。

——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》

This syndrome impacts a broad spectrum of individuals, from adolescents (青少年) to adults, including many accomplished people. In 2020, an analysis of this psychological phenomenon was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Drawing from data from 62 studies, researchers revealed that as many as 82 percent of participants suffer from imposter syndrome.

这种综合症影响着巨大人群——从青少年到成年人，这其中包括许多有成就的人。2020年，《普通内科学杂志》发表了对这一心理现象的分析。研究人员根据62项研究的数据表示：多达82%的参与者被“冒充者综合症”困扰着。

 spectrum   /ˈspektrəm/   n.系列

例句：We shall hear views from across the political spectrum.

我们要听取各个政治派别的看法。

——《牛津词典》

accomplished  /əˈkʌmplɪʃt/    adj.颇有建树的

例句：She is an accomplished painter.

她是位颇有建树的画家。

——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》

Overcoming these negative thought patterns is undoubtedly challenging, yet entirely feasible (可行的). It is crucial to recognize that experiencing such emotions is entirely commonplace. One strategy involves refraining (避免) from comparing oneself to others, as one often fails to grasp the complete narrative behind another person’s accomplishments.

克服消极的思维模式确实很有挑战性，但是我们可以做到。在这过程中至关重要的一点是：我们需要认识到有消极的情绪或想法是很正常的。其中一个方法就是避免和他人进行比较，因为你无法真正知道别人收获这份成功都经历了什么。

 feasible /ˈfiːzəbl/ adj.可行的

例句：I doubt the feasibility of the plan.

我怀疑这个计划的可行性。

——《牛津词典》

crucial  /ˈkruːʃl/   adj.关键的

例句：The next few weeks are going to be crucial.

今后几个星期是关键。

——《牛津词典》

 refrain   /rɪˈfreɪn/   v.避免

例句：Please refrain from smoking.

请勿吸烟。

——《牛津词典》

It is an undeniable truth that not everyone can excel in all domains. Notably, British physicist Anthony Leggett, a recipient (获得者) of the Nobel Prize in 2003, said in his speech, “I missed out on standard high school physics, so I have always been a bit confused about simple things like why the noise from a kettle stops as the water nears boiling.”

不可否认的事实是，并不是每个人都能在所有领域出类拔萃。值得一提的是，2003年诺贝尔奖获得者、英国物理学家安东尼·莱格特在演讲中说：“我没有接受过普遍意义上的高中物理学习，所以一直以来我总会对一些简单的事情感到困惑，比如为什么水壶的声音在水快要开的时候就停止了。”

domain /dəˈmeɪn/  n.领域

例句：The care of older people is being placed firmly within the domain of the family.

照顾老人仍然被确认为是家庭范围的事。

——《牛津词典》

kettle    /ˈketl/   n.水壶

例句：I'll put the kettle on and make us some tea.

我去烧壶水给大家沏茶。

——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》

When dealing with feelings of insecurity regarding one’s capabilities, it is important to remember that such feelings are entirely normal and can be overcome through concerted effort.

在处理对自己能力的怀疑时，重要的是要记住：这种感觉是完全正常的。我们可以通过努力来克服它。

insecurity /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti/  n.不安全

例句：They trade on people's insecurity to sell them insurance.   他们利用人们的不安全感向他们推销保险。

——《牛津词典》

concerted   /kənˈsɜːtɪd/ adj.同心协力的

例句：Martin Parry, author of the report, says it's time for concerted action by world leaders.

该报道的作者马丁·帕里宣称是世界各国的首脑采取一致行动的时候了。

——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》