Periagoge
Scenario

How to navigate intellectual comparison and imposter syndrome in study groups

Our study group started because we all felt like imposters in grad school but now it's become this weird space where we're constantly comparing who's struggling more or who's 'naturally' smarter, and I think we're actually reinforcing the exact intellectual insecurities we came together to address. Three of us are having very different experiences with feeling intelligent enough to be here and it's creating tension none of us know how to name.

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

A support structure designed to address intellectual insecurity becomes a site for reproducing the very hierarchies it sought to heal.

Your guide for this
Patan
Patan works with people navigating exactly this kind of situation.
Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Intelligence — theories myths and measurement?”

Peri

Peri can explain why this happens, help you decide if this is the right situation for you, and point toward the right journey or coach.

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.