What does Gaslighting mean?
Psychological manipulation to sow self-doubt
Detailed Explanation
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where a person seeks to make another person question their own reality, memory, or sanity. In internet slang, the term is used more broadly to describe someone who is being manipulative, denying reality, or trying to convince someone that their valid feelings are wrong. It refers to someone twisting the truth to gain an advantage.
Usage Examples
“He cheated on her and then tried to convince her she was just being paranoid. He was totally gaslighting her.”
“Stop gaslighting me, I know what I saw.”
“The politician was accused of gaslighting the public by denying his earlier statements.”
Origin & History
The term comes from the 1938 play 'Gas Light' (and its 1944 film adaptation 'Gaslight'), in which a husband manipulates his wife into thinking she is going insane by, among other things, secretly dimming their gas-powered lights and denying it's happening. The term entered clinical psychological use and became a popular buzzword online in the late 2010s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every disagreement 'gaslighting'?
No. The term is often overused online. A simple disagreement or a different memory of an event is not gaslighting. Gaslighting involves a persistent pattern of manipulative behavior intended to undermine someone's perception of reality.