Me, My Self (Concept), and I – Disentangling the Link Between Narcissism and the Impostor Self-Concept

The impostor self-concept involves self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud. While vulnerable narcissism shares substantial psychological similarities with the impostor self-concept, grandiose narcissism is associated with an overestimation of one's own capabilities. The present study explores the relationship between the personality constructs impostor self-concept and narcissism, considering parenting styles and adult attachment. In a sample of 339 participants, path analyses revealed that overprotective and controlling parenting fostered both impostor self-concept and vulnerable narcissism, while grandiose narcissism was linked to parental warmth. Impostor self-concept and vulnerable narcissism predicted higher attachment anxiety and lower trust, whereas grandiose narcissism had no significant effects on adult attachment. Despite substantial overlap in developmental predictors and relational consequences, factor analyses confirmed the impostor self-concept as distinct from vulnerable narcissism. Findings point to shared developmental pathways and distinct relational implications, and highlight the need for longitudinal research and interventions targeting self-esteem and attachment security.