The scientific truth behind ‘fake it till you make it’

“Fake it till you make it” may sound like a superficial phrase, but it has real grounding in psychology and neuroscience.

One key theory supporting it is self-perception theory, which says we often form beliefs about ourselves by observing our own behavior. So, if you act confidently — even when you don’t feel confident — your brain starts to believe that you are.

This is reinforced by cognitive dissonance, which occurs when your actions don’t align with your self-image. To reduce the discomfort this causes, your brain may change your self-beliefs to match your behavior. For example, if you consistently act like a leader, you may eventually come to see yourself as one.

Embodied cognition also shows that how we move and carry ourselves physically (like standing tall or smiling) can influence our emotions and mindset. Meanwhile, neuroplasticity explains how the brain rewires itself through repeated behavior. What feels fake at first can, through repetition, become second nature.

Finally, there’s the confidence-competence loop: acting confidently helps you take action, which builds skill, and that skill leads to real confidence. The key is not just pretending, but consistently practicing the behavior while putting in real effort to grow.

In short, “faking it” can help you become it — as long as it’s used to guide growth, not to deceive others or yourself.