Impostor Phenomenon as Human Debt: A Challenge to the Future of Software Engineering

2026-02-14

AI Summary

This study addresses the phenomenon of impostorism in software engineering, arguing that it is often mischaracterized as an individual psychological issue when it in fact stems from systemic deficits in psychological safety and institutional support, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. The paper introduces the novel concept of “human debt”—analogous to technical debt—to reframe impostorism as an organizational and cultural challenge. Drawing on sociotechnical systems analysis, a positionality-informed approach, and qualitative interpretation of preliminary survey data collected for ICSE 2026, the research reveals the unequal distribution of human debt across the industry. It calls for proactive interventions by leaders and institutions—through enhanced transparency, the cultivation of inclusive cultures, and the establishment of allyship mechanisms—to foster a more equitable and sustainable software engineering ecosystem.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Software Engineering
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Social Cognition And Interaction
• Humans and AI: Other Foundations of Human Computation & AI

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Fairness, privacy, and diversity in economic environments

Abstract

The Impostor Phenomenon (IP) impacts a significant portion of the Software Engineering workforce, yet it is often viewed primarily through an internal individual lens. In this position paper, we propose framing the prevalence of IP as a form of Human Debt and discuss the relation with the ICSE2026 Pre Survey on the Future of Software Engineering results. Similar to technical debt, which arises when short-term goals are prioritized over long-term structural integrity, Human Debt accumulates due to gaps in psychological safety and inclusive support within socio-technical ecosystems. We observe that this debt is not distributed equally, it weighs heavier on underrepresented engineers and researchers, who face compounded challenges within traditional hierarchical structures and academic environments. We propose cultural refactoring, transparency and active maintenance through allyship, suggesting that leaders and institutions must address the environmental factors that exacerbate these feelings, ensuring a sustainable ecosystem for all professionals.

Problem

• Impostor Phenomenon
• Human Debt
• Software Engineering
• Psychological Safety
• Inclusive Support

Innovation

• Impostor Phenomenon
• Human Debt
• Psychological Safety
• Cultural Refactoring
• Inclusive Support