Definitions and Origins
In January of 2022, a court case in the United Kingdom brought the topic of gaslighting to the forefront of public consciousness when a woman accused her partner of rape and domestic abuse. In response to her accusations, her partner convinced her, her family, and even other professionals that she had bipolar disorder in order to undermine her claims and cast doubt on her mental state.[1] Heightening matters was the fact that the woman's partner was a mental health worker, a position of knowledge and trust that he leveraged against her. In the ensuing court ruling, Justice Stephen Cobb put a name to this manipulation with the term 'gaslighting'–which he described as a "form of insidious abuse designed to cause the mother to question her own mental well-being, indeed her sanity.”[2]
The idea of gaslighting in fact emerged from a 1930s play, Gaslight, that closely parallels this court case.[3] Set in Victorian London, the play follows a husband who systematically lies and deceives his wife through activities such as "secretly dimming and brightening a gaslight to unsettle and confuse her" in order to convince her she is insane so that he can take possession of her wealth.[4] Like in the court case, the husband weaponized psychological tactics to make his partner question their reality and mental stability–an abusive manipulation that becomes difficult to prove due to this uncertainty of reality.[5]
Though only integrated into colloquial usage quite recently, gaslighting has been defined and fleshed out in greater scope in current literature. Stark (2019) describes gaslighting as a form of testimonial injustice, wherein a person's testimony about harms or wrongs done to them is denied, often on the basis of their social identity (e.g., women, non-binary people, and ethnic minorities).[6] Stark additionally discusses two main tactics used to facilitate gaslighting. "Sidestepping" involves avoiding evidence that supports testimony, which can involve such actions as ridiculing the accuser, turning the table and implying the accuser is a hypocrite, verbally attacking the accuser, or merely changing the subject. "Displacing" follows more of the court case and Gaslight storyline: the abuser makes it seem as if their partner has cognitive or characterological defects, displacing their partner's accusation back onto them and explaining the accusation with a supposed flaw.[7]
Gaslighting has also been defined in situations of microaggressions, where gaslighting is used to perpetuate oppression against marginalized groups. Johnson et al. (2021) define gaslighting as a phenomenon where "people of historically dominant groups negate the realities of people of marginalized groups … and [when] confronted for microaggressing, deny the existence of bias and convince their targets to question their own perceptions."[8] In doing so, those in privileged positions leverage their power to manipulate others, playing into patriarchal and racist labels of women and non-binary people of color as "crazy" and "hysterical."[9] Examples of these historical stereotypes include comments that marginalized groups are "always making things about race/gender," being "oversensitive" or "paranoid," or simply overly focused on negatives. As discussed by Oppenheim (2022), gaslighting can be difficult to bring to justice because often the discriminatory undertones of people's comments are subtly biased and even unknown to the perpetrator, making it easy for the accuser to question whether they are being overly sensitive.[10,11]
Psychological Effects
Having one's opinions, thoughts, and reality continually undermined can serve as a chronic stressor in a person's life and wear on a person's mental wellbeing. When gaslighters blame a person's memory and attack their character, they can completely undermine their target's sense of self, including their self-esteem and self-image. The self-doubt induced by persistent gaslighting has been associated with disorientation and depression.[12] As a form of psychological oppression, gaslighting causes its victims to internalize messages of inferiority. These messages can make victims doubt their moral status as a person able to discern harm and deserving of kind treatment.[13]
Researcher Diana Dimitrova (2021) corroborated these claims in a study of working women in Sofia, Bulgaria over a period of ten years.[14] The study took the form of an anonymous survey of 2,000 working women with more than five years of work experience, who ranged in age from 30-65. Most significantly, the survey found that half of the women subjected to prolonged mental harassment presented with depression. Almost a third of those women were diagnosed with other conditions, including 5% with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 10% with arterial hypertension, and 15% with ischemic disease–all conditions associated with chronic stress and a buildup of cortisol, a stress hormone.[15] Introverted women and women with less education were found to be the most vulnerable to gaslighting, indicating social implications for marginalized and unheard voices to be more affected by gaslighting.
Power Imbalances and Social Implications
The social power differences leveraged in gaslighting can take on many forms. Gaslighting is most often seen in heterosexual relationships, where the investment in male approval makes victims invested in what the manipulator believes. However, gaslighting can also be perpetrated by groups with racial privilege as well as in nonheterosexual relationships. Because of the position of privilege that the perpetrator comes from, it is often easier to convince the victim and third parties to trust their judgment.[16] Due to this, privileged people are insulated from the repercussions of harming others because they can simply displace the blame by making it seem as if their victim is in the wrong for the act of "overreacting" by complaining or protesting.
The privilege of those who perpetrate gaslighting often plays into existing hierarchical structures of misogyny, patriarchy, and racism.[17,18] The displacement component of gaslighting, wherein men accused of abuse often punish women for accusations by assigning defects to them that "explain" the accusation (e.g. oversensitivity, faulty memory, dishonesty), is itself a form of victim blaming and misogyny.[19] Attributing character flaws and uptight behavior to women creates a cycle of mistrust and feeds into stereotypes of women as frivolous and not to be taken seriously. The fact that marginalized people are often not believed or taken seriously when they come forward about gaslighting or other forms of abuse ironically demonstrates why they should be taken seriously. Marginalized people have few motives to fabricate harm at the same time as a strong motive not to: society is already biased against women and minorities, giving them little to gain from an accusation and everything to lose.[20] The act of gaslighting is in many ways a form of polyvictimization, where the harm done to a person who has already been victimized once is exacerbated by the refusal to believe them.[21] Living in a society where minorities are widely gaslit can bring about the same psychological harms as to those in gaslighting relationships, creating a culture of silence around abuse and reinforcing the norms of what groups remain in power.[22]
Discussion of gaslighting is helpful to combat this harmful culture, which is why public cases such as the court case discussed previously are so important. By using the term "gaslighting" in its ruling, the justice gave this form of psychological abuse legal credibility against the way abusers warp victims' realities: language is an important tool to expose abuse and give it a name.[23] Because most cases of gaslighting often happen "behind closed doors" and shy away from the center light, the publication of this court case is an important step for posterity in understanding gaslighting.
Q&A
SAS Therapists Discuss Symptoms and Interventions
1. How does gaslighting typically manifest in patients? What mental health conditions or symptoms are often associated with the experience of gaslighting?
“Gaslighting has become well-known for being used as a manipulative tactic that causes the individual to question their reality, judgment, and ultimately their sanity. It is considered emotional abuse and can be understood within the larger context of Duluth's Power and Control wheel. Not only are victims of gaslighting at greater risk of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, challenges with self-esteem and self-worth, but also the effects of chronic stress and potentially Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In addition, individuals with mood disorders, addiction, schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses, and even some personality disorders such as Dependent Personality Disorder are at greater risk of being a victim of gaslighting. These disorders all share characteristics of challenges in perception, self-trust, symptom management, memory, and emotional lability that compound and often confuse the symptoms related to gaslighting behavior, which can leave the impact unseen or disguised in the psychopathology of the disorder. Given that the nature of gaslighting is often being experienced within a proverbial vacuum, the individual may not be aware that anything the perpetrator is doing is wrong or that they begin questioning whether they are overreacting as a response. This creates confusion, self-doubt, and can even lead to isolation due to the convergence of these various factors.” (Brittany Canfield, Psy.D., LMHCA)
“The topic of gaslighting is inherently linked to relationships, right? There is a version of ‘gaslighting’ oneself, however, ‘self-gaslighting’ isn’t a very helpful term. So gaslighting ‘manifests’ in relationships of all kinds: from romantic to work-related to familial and even amongst friends. Because as therapists we are hopefully considering the ‘social’ ramifications or consequences of any kind of presentation in a client’s life, we could probably link gaslighting to any type of symptom. The most common, however, might include:
anxiety
racing thoughts / intrusive thoughts
depression
low self-esteem
insomnia
persistent guilt/shame
difficulty concentrating/focusing
anger/mood swing
Of note: these are ‘associated’ only and in no way am I implying causality. That might be obvious but – it just isn’t helpful to think of associations that closely. I’d say in general, if someone comes in with difficulty in relationships, they’re likely to be experiencing any of the above symptoms, and gaslighting might be a part of that initial difficulty in relationships.” (Kate Willman, MA, LMHCA, HCA)
2. In what kinds of environments do you typically see patients experiencing gaslighting? What suggestions do you have to handle gaslighting in environments such as the workplace, and how do those differ from gaslighting in personal and family relationships?
“Contrary to popular belief, gaslighting is prevalent in most social environments, not just within romantic or familial relationships, nor are these experiences exclusive to legal cases. What makes gaslighting challenging in diverse social situations is the power differentials that exist within the dynamic. For instance, individuals are more likely to discount gaslighting behavior within a work environment to maintain employment as the risk of loss, ridicule, and losing face is high. In any case, whether it is a friendship or a high stake relationship, gaslighting poses the ultimate challenge of the receiver being perceived as incompetent, irrational, unreliable, and/or ill. We may see a range of behaviors take place that involves lack of communication, starting conflict or silent treatments without known cause, use of back channels of communication, triangulation, and even taking away work, responsibility, and/or access to resources. It is important for the individual to know that the gaslighting behavior is an issue with the perpetrator, not the receiver (victim). It is often done out of an attempt to seek power and control within the dynamic.” (Brittany Canfield, Psy.D., LMHCA)
“I think the most typical experience of gaslighting is within a familial or romantic relationship. I haven’t had clients present with workplace gaslighting, so I don’t know that I can comment on the difference between these types of presentations. On a hypothetical level, I might consider the [general] workplace as an environment in which folks experience gaslighting or gaslighting tendencies on a subtler level, though much of this experience (even in intimate relationships) is pretty subtle.” (Kate Willman, MA, LMHCA, HCA)
3. What therapeutic techniques and types of therapy are most salient to help patients to address gaslighting? What resources are available to people who are or think they might be experiencing gaslighting?
“Considering the impact gaslighting behavior has on an individual, therapies rooted in building self-trust, self-esteem/self-worth, and identity are strongly recommended. Some of these would include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Internal Family Systems therapy. When individuals are showing symptoms of chronic stress and/or trauma, somatic therapy and other trauma-informed therapies could be beneficial in relieving those symptoms and developing a sense of safety.” (Brittany Canfield, Psy.D., LMHCA)
“The first step for me in these situations is acknowledgement and acceptance. Rarely do I have clients coming in saying “they’re gaslighting me!” Usually, it is something we learn over time with recollection of various behaviors and/or conversations within the relationship. Then, we are generally working via relationship- and/or attachment-focused therapies to address the situation at large. I have not experienced a client only presenting with having been gaslit and not have other issues in relationship, too. ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) is an excellent orientation for many types of presentation, including relational issues. ACT has an overall goal of a meaningful life for clients, and this includes a foundation of identity. Clients learn to decipher what their purpose is, the values on which they rely, and how they as an individual operate both apart from others and as a part of the whole. So for folks susceptible to relational issues like gaslighting, ACT may provide help by strengthening their sense of self, identity, worth + purpose from an intrinsic place, thereby facilitating a strengthening of clients’ ability to notice gaslighting or other red flags in a relationship.” (Kate Willman, MA, LMHCA, HCA)
4. Do you have any other advice or thoughts on dealing with gaslighting from a therapist's perspective?
“Dealing with the effects of gaslighting behavior can be isolating and discouraging. With that in mind, seeking the assistance from a professional can help lessen the impact of the experience and gain useful tools to help now and in the future. Even seeking support from trusted friends, family, or colleagues can help create the sounding board needed to build confidence and a space to check-in with your feelings.” (Brittany Canfield, Psy.D., LMHCA)
“Gaslighting is an interesting term to have entered both the zeitgeist at large and the paradigm of evidence-based therapy. It is rare for a term from a movie to have such permeating effects! So yeah, it isn’t a clinical term, yet we’re now being trained to consider this as a major flag for relational and/or personal despair. My thoughts on this topic are: (a) yay! more information theoretically means more help for people, more access to overall wellbeing; (b) eek! sometimes words and concepts that trend (especially related to mental health) aren’t always the most helpful to people, because they may mis-apply such phenomena to their relationships when – though other issues might be present – said phenomena is not. This term – though highly dangerous when it is present, isn’t always present in difficult relationships; so, (c) education and discussion are BEST! Whether with friends, professionals (like your therapist) or other trusted sources, talking about something is almost always better than not. As an ACT-oriented therapist, it is also worth noting that I am not interested in mere symptom reduction (e.g. “I don’t get gaslit anymore.”) Rather, I am approaching clients’ presentations or symptoms (including gaslighting others or being gaslit) from a holistic perspective, taking-in not only the ‘problems’ that surface as a result, but the strengths and the meaning beyond those ‘problems’. In the case of gaslighting, some trauma-informed or other specific therapy might be warranted. However, I can’t say enough that experiencing gaslighting – though uncomfortable, demeaning, and difficult to admit – isn’t in and of itself a “problem”. In general, experiencing gaslighting is evidence of larger problems, either in the client who was gaslit or the person utilizing gaslighting behaviors (or both!). I believe it is best practice to approach such topics with different lenses on so as to provide the most evidence-based, non-biased + holistic care possible, and as often as possible!” (Kate Willman, MA, LMHCA, HCA)
”My perspective as a therapist is that I always have to be aware of what I do know and what I don't know. It can be hard to pin down when gaslighting is happening because (in my understanding) for something to be gaslighting it must be done with malicious intent. I usually cannot know the intent of the other person my client is interacting with. If two people have different perspectives or different understandings of the world, they can both feel gaslit by the other if they both assume a malicious intent behind the way the other person's assertion of truth differs from their own. Feeling gaslit may be a sign that someone is gaslighting you, or it may instead be a sign that you don't trust the other person to be honest with you and/or to not try to cause you harm.” (Case Lovell, LMHC)
Contributed by: Anna Kiesewetter
Brittany Canfield, Psy.D., LMHCA, Kate Willman, MA, LMHCA, HCA
& Case Lovell, LMHC
Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.
For more information, click here to access an interview with Psychologist Karin Sponholz on codependency.
Additionally, you may click here to access an interview with Psychologist Michele Bedard-Gilligan on trauma & recovery.
references
1 Oppenheim, M. (2022). 'He convinced her she had bipolar': Gaslighting used in High Court judgment for first time in 'milestone' hearing. The Independent, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gaslighting-high-court-judgement-family-courts-b2014708.html.
2 Ibid.
3 Johnson, V., Nadal, K., Sissoko, D. R. G. and King, R. (2021). "It's Not in Your Head": Gaslighting, 'Splaining, Victim Blaming, and Other Harmful Reactions to Microaggressions. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(5), 1024-1036. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17456916211011963.
4 Ibid.
5 Oppenheim, 2022.
6 Stark, C. (2019). Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Psychological Oppression. The Monist, 102(2), 221-235. https://doi.org/10.1093/monist/onz007.
7 Ibid.
8 Johnson, V., Nadal, K., Sissoko, D. R. G. and King, R. (2021). "It's Not in Your Head": Gaslighting, 'Splaining, Victim Blaming, and Other Harmful Reactions to Microaggressions. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(5), 1024-1036. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17456916211011963.
9 Ibid.
10 Oppenheim, 2022.
11 Johnson et al., 2021.
12 Stark, 2019.
13 Ibid.
14 Dimitrova, D. (2021). The women in situations of gaslighting – risk identification in the work environment. European Journal of Public Health, 31(3), 462-463. https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/31/Supplement_3/ckab165.327/6406127.
15 Ibid.
16 Stark, 2019.
17 Ibid.
18 Johnson et al., 2021.
19 Stark, 2019.
20 Ibid.
21 Johnson et al., 2021.
22 Stark, 2019.
23 Oppenheim, 2022.