Wednesday 30 December 2015

What is Gaslighting?

Gaslighting is a form of mental abuse in which information is twisted, spun or selectively omitted to favour the abuser or false information is presented with the intent of making victims doubt their own memory, perception and sanity. wikipedia

Gaslighting is the attempt of one person attempting to overwrite another person's reality. 

Gaslighting is a dangerous part of coercive control.

The term Gaslighting was first coined in 1938 by the play "Gas Light" and the film adaptations thereafter that helped enhance the popularity of the term.

Gaslighting is one of the most dangerous, extreme and effective forms of emotional and psychological abuse and is mostly carried out intentionally. Gaslighting is a game of mind control and intimidation that is used by narcissists, sociopaths and psychopaths as a way of controlling, confusing and debilitating someone.

The intention of Gaslighting is to decrease another's self-esteem and confidence so they are unable to function in an independent manner. The person being Gaslighted will eventually become so insecure that they fail to trust their own judgment, intuition and are unable to make decisions for themselves. Eventually, the victim will become so unsure of what reality looks like that they become completely dependent on their abuser. The abuser will appear to the victim (and those around him and the victim) to be the only one to have a clear "grip" of their mind, the situation and what is going on around them.

The perpetrator will...

Lie, alter reality, change the rules, disorientate the victim, withhold information, exaggerate information, be aggressive and angry; disagree with the victim, tell you you're wrong, tell you half the story (one way or another), create mistrust, call you names, insult and humiliate you and will even flirt and cheat and tell you-you are imagining it and it is all in your mind.

The perpetrator will...

accuse the victim of always being negative, paranoid, misunderstanding everything, being stupid, jealous, insecure and vulnerable.

In the play, Gas Light, the husband used forms of manipulation in an attempt to drive his wife crazy, for example, he deliberately dims the gas lights in the house but tells his wife she is imagining it. With the use of various tricks, he tried to convince his wife that she was going insane and also that she was losing her memory.

The Gaslight effect happens slowly and over a long period of time (20 plus years in my case) whereby you do not realise what is happening and your sense of reality is so compromised that you eventually believe that it must "you" that is the problem, not the perpetrator.

Gaslighting usually happens in stages...
Disbelief
Defense
Depression

Here are some of the signs...
1. You are constantly second-guessing yourself
2. You ask yourself, "Am I too sensitive?" a dozen times a day
3. You often feel confused and even crazy at work
4. You're always apologizing to your mother, father, boyfriend or boss
5. You can't understand why, with so many apparently good things in your life, you aren't happy
6. You frequently make excuses for your partner's behavior to friends and family
7. You find yourself withholding information from friends and family so you don't have to explain or make excuses
8. You know something is terribly wrong, but you can never quite express what it is, even to yourself 
9. You start lying to avoid the put downs and reality twists 
10. You have trouble making simple decisions
11. You have the sense that you used to be a very different person - more confident, more fun-loving, more relaxed.
12. You feel hopeless and joyless
13. You feel as though you can't do anything right
14. You wonder if you are a "good enough" girlfriend/ wife/employee/ friend; daughter
15. You find yourself withholding information from friends and family so you don't have to explain or make excuses

Gaslighting does not discriminate, it can happen to anyone regardless of gender, culture or social standing.


Resources and Further Information:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/08/gaslighting-the-mind-game-everyone-should-know-about/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/power-in-relationships/200905/are-you-being-gaslighted
http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/seven-signs-you-are-a-victim-of-gaslighting-fiff/

References: wikipedia/Elephant Journal/Psychology Today

Written by Elaine Hook, Survivor of Domestic Abuse, Safeguarding Expert, Education Consultant & Trainer
elainehook@hotmail.com
@ed2inspire
30.12.15



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