Pseudocompetence

Pseudocompetence comes from the Greek root "ψευδο-", pseudo- and competence, the ability to perform a task or job. PetrÅ«ska Clarkson coined the term Achilles syndrome in her 1994 book The Achilles Syndrome where she focuses on the story of Achilles as an allusion to the hero's lack of internal competence with battle, love, and childhood. For modern people, the term refers to a psychological syndrome where a person may externally perform competently, however, does not internally believe they are competent for the task, job, position, or activity.
Pseudocompetent people have generally either become unconsciously incompetent or skipped over the basics of a particular field. This disruption in the natural learning cycle, coupled with the external expectation of competence, as described by Clarkson, can create a scenario where the person lacks the internal support to feel competent.
Identification
These symptoms are the building blocks of pseudocompetence and usually will never be visible to others:
# A mismatch between externally assessed competence or qualification and internally experienced competence or capability, leading to feelings of I'm a fraud.
# Inappropriate anxiety or panic in anticipation of doing the relevant task.
# Inappropriate strain or exhaustion after the task.
# Relief instead of satisfaction on completion of a task.
# Inability to carry over any sense of achievement to the next situation.
# A recurrent conscious or unconscious fear of being found out, and of shame and humiliation.
# A longing to tell others about the discomfort but having a fear of being called weak or unstable.
Natural learning cycle
The natural learning cycle can be broken down into four levels with regards to competence. Both children and adults follow these four levels and often once passing the last level, unconscious competent, must relearn the basics. A pseudocompetent person will have a difficult time regressing in a natural and healthy way so that they may learn what was skipped. Ask a man if he is willing to publicly admit his shortcomings in sexuality and an overwhelming majority would not. Discrepancies between the great expectations of society and one's actual sexual ability or knowledge has created a cultural and societal pseudocompetence.<ref name="Clarkson" />

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