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.

翻译：冒名顶替综合征（IP）影响着相当一部分软件工程从业者，然而人们通常主要从个体内在视角看待此现象。在本立场文件中，我们提出将IP的普遍存在视为一种人力债务形式，并探讨其与ICSE2026软件工程未来预调查结果的关系。类似于因短期目标优先于长期结构完整性而产生的技术债务，人力债务的积累源于社会技术生态系统中心理安全与包容性支持的缺失。我们观察到这种债务并非均匀分布，在传统层级结构和学术环境中面临多重挑战的弱势工程师与研究者承受着更沉重的负担。我们提出通过盟友关系进行文化重构、提升透明度并实施主动维护，建议领导者和机构必须解决加剧这些感受的环境因素，从而为所有专业人士构建可持续的生态系统。