11/12/2025
“Clark Kent / Superman Syndrome” refers to shifting your identity, interests, or behavior just to make others happy or to “fit” a role.
On the surface, it can look like flexibility or social intelligence. But the psychological cost is real.
People who frequently “mask” or reshape themselves for others are more likely to report:
• Lower self-esteem
• Self-doubt and second-guessing
• Difficulty asserting needs
• Strain in relationships
• Feeling disconnected from who they actually are
