Gaslighting

Gaslighting refers to a manipulative tactic where a person tries to make another doubt their own perception of reality or question their sanity. This term derives from the 1944 movie “Gaslight,” in which a husband manipulates his wife into believing she is going insane.

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where someone uses deceitful tactics to make another person question their own experiences, memories, or emotions. This is done in order to gain control or power over the individual. It often involves distortions of the truth, denial of previous agreements or actions, and making the victim feel like they are overreacting or going crazy.

Example 1:
Person A: “I clearly remember you promising to help me with this project.”
Person B: “No, I never said that. You must be misremembering. Stop making things up.”

Example 2:
Person A: “You consistently cancel plans at the last minute.”
Person B: “I never do that. You’re just being overly sensitive. You should probably start therapy to deal with your trust issues.”

In both examples, Person B is gaslighting Person A by denying their experiences and shifting the blame onto the victim. Gaslighting can be very harmful and can cause the victim to question their own sanity, leading to feelings of confusion, self-doubt, and diminished self-esteem.