How is impostor syndrome different from having low self esteem?
Er, one is a fear of being discovered as incompetent, and the other is low self-esteem? ;-)
Obviously, having a low opinion of your abilities would be a prerequisite for fearing that others will come to share that opinion. So, I’m not sure I understand your question.
“Low self-esteem” is usually interpreted to mean, “having a lower opinion of self than is merited”—so if you fear discovery of your incompetence, the incompetence itself could be either actual or imagined, and only in the imaginary case would the “low self-esteem” label also apply. ;-)
Er, one is a fear of being discovered as incompetent, and the other is low self-esteem? ;-)
Obviously, having a low opinion of your abilities would be a prerequisite for fearing that others will come to share that opinion. So, I’m not sure I understand your question.
“Low self-esteem” is usually interpreted to mean, “having a lower opinion of self than is merited”—so if you fear discovery of your incompetence, the incompetence itself could be either actual or imagined, and only in the imaginary case would the “low self-esteem” label also apply. ;-)