Gaslighting

Gaslighting  is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgment.

Sound familiar?

Many of have inadvertently been drawn into a personal relationship with someone who uses this technique. It is a technique in which the subject looses their power within the relationship as, over time, they begin to question their own perception, thoughts and judgement. Having been involved in such a relationship and coming out the other side, seeing the behaviour for what it is – does this make the subject more able to spot this behaviour in others?

Denial, misdirection and contradiction lie within the arsenal of the perpetrator. The aim to destabilize, delegitimize or even to divide beliefs. Maybe on a personal level simple following their base instincts with a need for control within a relationship. The danger comes when these techniques are adopted by the perpetrator in order to deceive and control a larger group – perhaps even a population?

The goal would be to gradually undermine the confidence of the victim(s) to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, or reality from delusion, thereby rendering the individual or group dependent on the gaslighter for their thinking and feelings.

Makes you think, deosn.t it..