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

TL;DR

This paper redefines the Impostor Phenomenon in software engineering as Human Debt, emphasizing its societal and psychological roots, and advocates for cultural change to foster inclusivity and sustainability.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of Human Debt related to Impostor Phenomenon, linking it to technical debt, and proposes strategies for cultural refactoring and active support.

Findings

Impostor Phenomenon disproportionately affects underrepresented engineers.

Addressing Human Debt requires cultural and institutional changes.

Active allyship can mitigate psychological safety issues.

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.