Apr 11, 2016

Gaslighting is Abuse.

What is Gaslighting?

 Quotes & Resources

1.
Oxford Dictionary states:
"Gaslight - Manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity"


2.
National Hotline For Domestic Abuse (reeaally good) :
"You’re crazy – that never happened.”
“Are you sure? You tend to have a bad memory.”
“It’s all in your head.”
Does your partner repeatedly say things like this to you? Do you often start questioning your own perception of reality, even your own sanity, within your relationship? If so, your partner may be using what mental health professionals call “gaslighting.”
This term comes from the 1938 stage play Gas Light, in which a husband attempts to drive his wife crazy by dimming the lights (which were powered by gas) in their home, and then he denies that the light changed when his wife points it out. It is an extremely effective form of emotional abuse that causes a victim to question their own feelings, instincts, and sanity, which gives the abusive partner a lot of power (and we know that abuse is about power and control). Once an abusive partner has broken down the victim’s ability to trust their own perceptions, the victim is more likely to stay in the abusive relationship."
http://www.thehotline.org/2014/05/what-is-gaslighting/

3.
 "Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse where false information is presented to the victim by a spouse or another primary attachment figure, causing the victim to doubt his or her perceptions, judgments, memories, and even sanity."
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/sex/2014/05/gaslighting-how-addicts-drive-loved-ones-over-the-edge/

4.
Wikipedia Definition:
   "Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse where false information is presented to the victim by a spouse or another primary attachment figure, causing the victim to doubt his or her perceptions, judgments, memories, and even sanity. Gaslighting is particularly effective when coupled with other tactics such as shaming, blaming and guilting. Anything that aids in getting another person to doubt their judgment and back down will work."

5.
"Gaslighting - The practice of brainwashing or convincing a mentally healthy individual that they are going insane or that their understanding of reality is mistaken or false. "
http://outofthefog.website/top-100-trait-blog/2015/11/4/gaslighting

6.
"Gaslighting does not require deliberate plotting. Gaslighting only requires a belief that it is acceptable to overwrite another person’s reality."
http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/08/things-wish-known-gaslighting/

7.
"Gaslighting
A mind game. A common form of brainwashing in which an abuser tries to falsely convince the victim that the victim is defective, for any purpose whatsoever, such as making the victim more pliable and easily controlled, or making the victim more emotional and therefore more needy and dependent."
http://jebrown.us/Relationshop/Definitions/gaslighting.html

8.
"How do you know if you are being gaslighted?"  List of signs at the bottom.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/power-in-relationships/200905/are-you-being-gaslighted

9.
"Gaslighting is a sophisticated manipulation tactic which certain types of personalities use to create doubt in the minds of others."
http://counsellingresource.com/features/2011/11/08/gaslighting/

10.
  "Gaslighting describes actions that 1) make another person believe he or she is crazy, and 2) discredit the person by making others think they are crazy.
.. Gaslighting happens mostly commonly when a survivorsenses or perceives something about the primary aggressor that he does not not want to admit. When the survivors brings this up, the primary aggressor denies what the survivor is actually perceiving or sensing.
   Being in relationship with someone with a hidden double life is also gaslighting. Because the primary aggressor has a contrary image to the rest of the world, the survivor knows that she or he will not be believed. "
 http://www.abuseandrelationships.org/Content/The_Con/gaslighting.html