When someoneuses anunfamiliar word,I assumeeveryone elseunderstandsI do not letpeople seeme studyingor workingtoo hardI think I washired oradmittedbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI shouldsucceed ateverythingI doI shouldautomat-ically"get it"I struggle tofind studybuddies asothers aresmarter thanmeThe only way Iwill make it inSTEM is byworking harderthan othersI avoid expressingconfidencebecause I thinkpeople will see itas obnoxious orovercompensatingI hide myaccomplish-mentsI do notvoice myrealopinionsI tend toremember timeswhen I have notdone my bestmore than times Ihave done mybestI should beable to doeverythingmyselfI never let onthat I do notknow how todosomethingI have adread ofothersevaluatingmeI assumethat otherpeopleare rightWhen peoplepraise me for anaccomplishment,I’m afraid I won’tbe able to live upto theirexpectationsI alwaysshare creditwith others(even if I didall the work)I should feellucky to havegotten intoschool, thejob, etc.I should be ableto anticipateproblemsbefore theyoccurI panicbefore a test,presentation,or interviewI don'tfeel like IbelongEventuallypeople willrealize I amunderqualifiedfor my roleI do not tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI procrastinatestartingimportant tasks,as they makeme feel anxiousI have oftensucceeded in atask even though Iwas afraid that Iwould not do wellI avoidchallengingmyself toomuchI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI assumewhen peoplecomplimentme, they arejust being niceI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly dopeople won'tnotice if I'm notthat goodI hold backwhenworking in agroup orteamI assume Iwill fail so Iwill not bedisappointedwhen I doI attribute myaccomplish-ments tosomethingother thanmyselfIt was afluke. I canonly be thatgood onceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI do not makedeclarativestatementslike "I knowthe answer"I explain whyI do notdeserve thecomplimentI remindothers ofhow much Ido not knowI qualify questionsor comments bysaying things like,"This may not beright, but..."When someoneuses anunfamiliar word,I assumeeveryone elseunderstandsI do not letpeople seeme studyingor workingtoo hardI think I washired oradmittedbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI shouldsucceed ateverythingI doI shouldautomat-ically"get it"I struggle tofind studybuddies asothers aresmarter thanmeThe only way Iwill make it inSTEM is byworking harderthan othersI avoid expressingconfidencebecause I thinkpeople will see itas obnoxious orovercompensatingI hide myaccomplish-mentsI do notvoice myrealopinionsI tend toremember timeswhen I have notdone my bestmore than times Ihave done mybestI should beable to doeverythingmyselfI never let onthat I do notknow how todosomethingI have adread ofothersevaluatingmeI assumethat otherpeopleare rightWhen peoplepraise me for anaccomplishment,I’m afraid I won’tbe able to live upto theirexpectationsI alwaysshare creditwith others(even if I didall the work)I should feellucky to havegotten intoschool, thejob, etc.I should be ableto anticipateproblemsbefore theyoccurI panicbefore a test,presentation,or interviewI don'tfeel like IbelongEventuallypeople willrealize I amunderqualifiedfor my roleI do not tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI procrastinatestartingimportant tasks,as they makeme feel anxiousI have oftensucceeded in atask even though Iwas afraid that Iwould not do wellI avoidchallengingmyself toomuchI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI assumewhen peoplecomplimentme, they arejust being niceI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly dopeople won'tnotice if I'm notthat goodI hold backwhenworking in agroup orteamI assume Iwill fail so Iwill not bedisappointedwhen I doI attribute myaccomplish-ments tosomethingother thanmyselfIt was afluke. I canonly be thatgood onceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI do not makedeclarativestatementslike "I knowthe answer"I explain whyI do notdeserve thecomplimentI remindothers ofhow much Ido not knowI qualify questionsor comments bysaying things like,"This may not beright, but..."

Impostor Syndrome Bingo - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.


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  1. When someone uses an unfamiliar word, I assume everyone else understands
  2. I do not let people see me studying or working too hard
  3. I think I was hired or admitted because of some kind of mistake
  4. I should succeed at everything I do
  5. I should automat-ically "get it"
  6. I struggle to find study buddies as others are smarter than me
  7. The only way I will make it in STEM is by working harder than others
  8. I avoid expressing confidence because I think people will see it as obnoxious or overcompensating
  9. I hide my accomplish-ments
  10. I do not voice my real opinions
  11. I tend to remember times when I have not done my best more than times I have done my best
  12. I should be able to do everything myself
  13. I never let on that I do not know how to do something
  14. I have a dread of others evaluating me
  15. I assume that other people are right
  16. When people praise me for an accomplishment, I’m afraid I won’t be able to live up to their expectations
  17. I always share credit with others (even if I did all the work)
  18. I should feel lucky to have gotten into school, the job, etc.
  19. I should be able to anticipate problems before they occur
  20. I panic before a test, presentation, or interview
  21. I don't feel like I belong
  22. Eventually people will realize I am underqualified for my role
  23. I do not tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  24. I procrastinate starting important tasks, as they make me feel anxious
  25. I have often succeeded in a task even though I was afraid that I would not do well
  26. I avoid challenging myself too much
  27. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  28. I assume when people compliment me, they are just being nice
  29. I try to be really personable and friendly do people won't notice if I'm not that good
  30. I hold back when working in a group or team
  31. I assume I will fail so I will not be disappointed when I do
  32. I attribute my accomplish-ments to something other than myself
  33. It was a fluke. I can only be that good once
  34. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  35. I do not make declarative statements like "I know the answer"
  36. I explain why I do not deserve the compliment
  37. I remind others of how much I do not know
  38. I qualify questions or comments by saying things like, "This may not be right, but..."