Does "Fake It Till You Make It" Actually Work Or Is It a Lie?

Being a Psychology student who wants to work in beauty marketing doesn’t really make sense to most people. Over the years, I’ve walked into exam halls convinced I know nothing, applied for work experience I had no qualifications for, and dealt with so much anxiety that the last things you’d associate with me are the words “confident” and “capable”.

So, when people (and the internet) kept bombarding me with "fake it till you make it", I had to try and make it work. For me, it was never really about faking a personality in a job interview. It was about convincing myself I did know the content for my exam, that there is something in me that will get me the job, and showing up every day put together despite feeling horrifically anxious.

But does it actually work, or is it just a phrase people say when they don’t know what advice to give you?

It's Not Even a New Concept

When I first heard “fake it till you make it”, I thought it was such a weird concept and honestly kind of backwards. I assumed it was another trend, but actually, the philosopher William James was one of the first people to talk about it, saying, “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.”

I think part of the reason I found the concept so strange was the word “fake”. It feels like you’re lying to everyone, but maybe the point isn’t to convince other people. It might be about giving yourself the opportunity to practise being the person you want to be. 

Okay, But Is There Actually Science Behind It?

Yes! The research behind cognitive dissonance explains why “fake it till you make it” can work. Basically, cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling you experience when what you're doing doesn't match what you believe about yourself, so your brain naturally wants to resolve the contradiction. It tends to do this by making your beliefs catch up to your behaviour, rather than changing your behaviour itself.

The theory of cognitive dissonance explains why “fake it till you make it” can work as the brain tries to resolve contradicting thoughts and actions by aligning your beliefs with your behaviour.

If you believe “I’m not confident” but repeatedly behave confidently by putting yourself forward, speaking up and applying for things, your behaviour starts to contradict the way you see yourself. Over time, that tension can encourage your beliefs to shift to match what you're actually doing. Pretending to be confident becomes actually believing you’re capable.

Is It Bad Advice?

A lot of people actually hate on “fake it till you make it”, and I can see why. Just because you tell yourself something doesn’t mean you’ll miraculously believe it. The thing is, no one is saying that if you decide to act confident in one job interview, you’ll never feel nervous again. It’s all about practising that belief in yourself, and over time, starting to see that you really can do it.

One of my favourite quotes is, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right”, because it captures a similar concept: the way you think about yourself can influence the way you approach what’s in front of you.

The concept of “fake it till you make it” can help you succeed in certain situations, but it doesn’t address the root causes of your emotions.

Even if faking it doesn't make you truly believe in yourself or feel ecstatic, it can still change what you do. You’re more likely to get the job or do well in an exam if you act confident. You’re more likely to feel calm and happy if you act like you are and actively look for reasons why you can be. 

However, there are limits to it. It doesn’t address why you feel like an imposter, why you’re anxious, or why you don’t feel good enough in the first place. You can’t just pretend your problems don’t exist and hope they disappear, although I really wish you could. 

Also, constantly pretending can be exhausting. I’ve definitely found that “faking it” can only take me so far. It can help me get through a presentation, an interview or an exam, but it doesn’t make the underlying anxiety disappear. I think that’s the main point: fake it when you need to, but don’t forget to address why you feel like you have to fake it in the first place.

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