gaslighting
Last updatedWhat to know
Gaslighting involves getting a person to mistrust their own sight, hearing, memory, or ability to understand a situation. The term is based on a 1938 play called Gas Light, in which a man tries to convince his wife that she is hallucinating by secretly dimming the gas lamps in their house, and gained popularity during the Trump administration in the context of politicians making misleading statements.
Gaslighting can best be understood through examples: 1) A spouse keeps skipping their turn to take out the trash and then insists it’s not their turn at all but their forgetful partner’s, who then starts doubting their sense of reality. 2) A husband uses misogynistic nicknames for his wife, but whenever she politely asks him to stop, he scolds her for getting “hysterical” and overreacting to his jokes. 3) A caregiver steals their older parent’s money from their account, and when the individual notices their low balance, the caregiver claims the money was never there in the first place.
Gaslighting is more than simple disagreement or lying. By getting a person to doubt their own mind, a perpetrator can control the situation in subtle but powerful ways. While gaslighting can be an isolated incident between strangers, it is typically a prolonged pattern of behavior that whittles down a person’s psychological defenses. An individual may not even realize their actions are abusive — they could simply view their behavior as a way to avoid conflict or deflect criticism. However, whether the gaslighting is part of a complex campaign of manipulation or the result of unhealthy, disrespectful attitudes, the harm it causes is real.
The rise in popular use of the term gaslighting has caused some confusion about its precise definition. For example, unlike other forms of manipulation, gaslighting entails an intent to create confusion and self-doubt. For precision, it’s helpful to consider what makes gaslighting a distinct phenomenon when you decide whether the term applies to your coverage.
Additional resources
- What is gaslighting? (National Domestic Violence Hotline)
- The sociology of gaslighting (American Sociological Association)
Summary
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that makes the victim doubt their perception of reality. The term is often used in coverage of abusive relationships and in the context of politicians making misleading statements. The rise in popular use of the term has caused some confusion about its precise definition. For example, unlike other forms of manipulation, gaslighting entails an intent to create confusion and self-doubt. For precision, it’s helpful to consider what makes gaslighting a distinct phenomenon when you decide whether the term applies to your coverage.