What Is Gaslighting?

Gaslighting is a pathetic form of manipulation in an attempt to control or confuse another, deriving its name from the play, Gas Light (1938), and later a film adaptation. Gaslighting is a simple manipulation which involves getting the victim to doubt themselves. People that get a kick out of Gaslighting don’t appreciate the same favor being returned in kind, but it can be quite effective at curing some of the rude habit.

Gaslighting can occur in person or online. It is easy to detect and quantify if you grab the evidence while it exists or record it in some form (video, screen cap, etc). Gaslighters come in all forms of the PD’d, in particular narcissists and borderlines. The beauty of the Gaslight is that the projectionist is the one needing you to believe their bollox but is more likely to believe it themselves than the intended target. So, if you are paying attention, you can hang them high with their own mess while they scream in denial.

Tribal Gaslighting is another method used to manipulate, and also pretty poor as it works best with those that suffer from ‘identity disturbances.’ In this instance, the focus is online forums and the Echo chambers of thought, pattern and expectation. Were you to login in at Psychforums, and make the obligatory Introduction post, you can be certain that your IP and email will be checked and your post read over with a fine tooth comb to make certain that you are not someone that can’t be manipulated or knows too much about the inner workings of that fetid mess.

Only those that support the ‘agenda’ at PF are allowed to post. Most are posting with multiple sock puppets as they “stretch their identities” across the DSM spectrum while fantasizing of PD hybrids that have yet to be written up. Then add the overlay of the Enneagram to flesh out the “character” and the online puppet show is ready to go. The DSM and the interpretations of the research by the esteemed posters at PF leave everything to the imagination; which explains much of the ludicrousness that goes on there. A “Tribe” of puppets promoting a line of bollox as the guiding light to “mental health.” What could possibly go wrong?

Dr. Ramani wrote an excellent article: Gaslighting by Tribe –How other people empower the narcissist by doubting your reality. In this article she focuses on the two faces of experience with an individual and how they may contradict those of others. This in and of itself may be considered a form of cognitive dissonance, however both sides of the “persona” are valid as constructs, how you choose to value them is your choice. Actions are the outcome of a thought process, denial is the response to the perpetrator being called out on the actions that lacked sense.

Another point that also requires consideration is collusion. Everyone telling/ repeating the same lie. Gaslighting in collusion online is one method of promoting an agenda and creating Echo chambers of the absurd. “In group” and “out group” , the “Cool kids couch” and the kindergarten appeal of “belonging” to a group, any group. Weak minded adults, like vulgar children, feel “powerful” when they are bullying another. They are only glad it’s not them, as they would scream like dying pigs for far less.