Gaslighting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gaslighting is a form of mental abuse in which false information is presented with the intent of making a victim doubt his or her own memory, perception andsanity. [1] Instances may range simply 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 "gaslighting" comes from the play Gas Light and its film adaptations. The term is now also used in clinical and research literature. [2] [3]
Clinical examples
Psychologist Martha Stout states that sociopaths frequently use gaslighting tactics. Sociopaths consistently transgress social mores, break laws, and exploit others, but are also typically charming and convincing liars who consistently deny wrongdoing. Thus, some who have been victimized by sociopaths may doubt their perceptions. [6] Jacobson and Gottman report that some physically abusivespouses may gaslight their partners, even flatly denying that they have been violent. [3]
Gaslighting can also occur in parent-child relationships, with either parent or child (or both) lying to each other and attempting to undermine perceptions. [8] Furthermore, gaslighting has been observed between patients and staff in inpatient psychiatric facilities. [9]