Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual, making them question their own memory, perception, or sanity. Using denial, misdirection, contradiction, and misinformation, gaslighting involves attempts to destabilize the victim and delegitimize the victim's beliefs.

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Origins

The term originated from the British play Gas Light (1938) and its 1940 and 1944 film adaptations. The term has been used in clinical and research literature, as well as in political commentary.

In relationships

Instances may range from the denial by an abuser that previous abusive incidents ever occurred up to the staging of bizarre events by the abuser with the intention of disorienting the victim. The term is also used to describe a form of psychological abuse involving the manipulation of situations or events that cause a person to be confused or to doubt his instincts, perceptions and memories. Gaslighting can occur in personal relationships, at the workplace, or over an entire society.

In the workplace

Gaslighting at work can be subtle, and can include the following: A person experiences targeted gossip, having their work sabotaged or stolen, being purposely misled, and/or being lied to about things. It can be a severe form of workplace bullying.

In politics

Gaslighting is used in politics for a range of actions from denying verifiable facts to accusing others of the gaslighting behavior that the politician is actually engaged in.

See also

• Psychological manipulation
• Psychological abuse
• Workplace bullying

External links

• Psychology Today: 11 Warning Signs of Gaslighting

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