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Sparky81 t1_j93i6js wrote

Gaslighting is a tactic for manipulating someone in a way that makes them question their own reality.

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allen84 t1_j93i8ym wrote

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or in members of a targeted group, making them question their own memory, perception, or sanity. The term "gaslighting" originates from the 1938 play "Gas Light," in which a husband attempts to convince his wife that she is going insane by manipulating her environment and denying things that he previously said or did.

In modern usage, gaslighting can take many forms, including denial of facts or events, persistent lying or misrepresentation, projection of one's own actions or beliefs onto another person, and manipulating someone's emotional responses to make them doubt themselves. Gaslighting can occur in a variety of settings, including personal relationships, workplace environments, and political or social contexts.

Gaslighting can be extremely damaging to the mental health and well-being of the targeted individual, and it can lead to feelings of confusion, anxiety, and self-doubt. It is important to be aware of the signs of gaslighting and to seek support from trusted friends, family members, or mental health professionals if you suspect that you or someone you know is being gaslit.

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tr14l t1_j93idn9 wrote

Gaslighting is telling someone something is true when it isn't, or isn't true when it is. The effect is basically to convince not to trust their own perception. This term comes from an old play in which a husband continually adjusted the gas-fueled lamps in their house to be dimmer and dimmer over time. His wife would complain about it and he would lie and say they were as bright as they'd ever been. The effect was to make her think she was crazy.

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MacSanchez t1_j93im6w wrote

How do you not get this? We were all taught what this was at a very young age and the fact that you don’t get it makes me wonder what other simple concepts you can’t grasp.

This was a half-assed attempt at gaslighting, which is a psychological attack to make someone question their own sanity or understanding of the topic at hand

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Cyranoreddit t1_j93k96d wrote

I have already explained it to you, did you not get it the first time?

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explainlikeimfive-ModTeam t1_j93ll4g wrote

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WarlandWriter t1_j93loj9 wrote

Replying to tr14l (#1,863,314)

While gaslighting may at first glance seem a tad silly, as thought it's just dumb pranks, and the harm of it is perhaps not immediately apparent, it is a tactic commonly employed by abusers. (I guess it is abuse in and of itself? No matter, that's semantics.) The idea is that if your abuser causes you to trust their judgment over your own, they can get away with more and more horrible shit.

"No, silly, I didn't hit you, you hit your head on the cabinet door, remember?" "I know your friend told you I'm bad news, but I think she's actually bad news so maybe you shouldn't hang out with her anymore." It gives the abuser a tremendous amount of control over the victim's life.

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Lemesplain t1_j93on20 wrote

Lying to someone specifically in a way that makes them doubt their own memory or reality. Usually a long-term thing.

For example, if you and I are alone in an elevator, and I fart…. then blame you. With only 2 of us, we both absolutely know who farted, but maybe I can convince you that it was you. Even if you 99% know that it wasn’t actually you, that 1% doubt is the start of it.

Next time something happens, I blatantly lie again and get you to 2% doubt the obvious reality. On and on until you don’t believe your own brain.

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lelma_and_thouise t1_j93p6zz wrote

Replying to WarlandWriter (#1,863,659)

Yea, it's brutal. My ex gaslit me constantly, among other abuse tactics. I'm lucky to have gotten out. He abandoned our son the literal second he realized he couldn't control me anymore, which in one way sucks that my son doesn't have a dad in his life, but on the other hand my son is growing up in an environment with zero toxicity and zero abuse. I choose the latter over the former :)

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