Gaslighting

San Francisco CA

Description

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in targeted individuals or groups. It is an attempt to make them question their own memory and perception. The tactic relies on persistent denial, contradiction and lying in an attempt to delegitimize the victim’s belief. The term “gaslighting” comes from a 1938 play, and subsequent 1944 film adaptation, in which a murdering husband manipulates and confuses his wife by dimming the gas lights in their home and then denying it’s happening. Psychology Today: “It works much better than you may think. Anyone is susceptible to gaslighting, and it is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. It is done slowly, so the victim doesn’t realize how much they’ve been brainwashed.” Psychologist Bryant Welch, who wrote "State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind", has frequently discussed how the pharmaceutical industry uses the tactic regularly with the American people. Said Welch: “The very state of confusion they are creating is a political weapon in and of itself. If you make people confused, they are vulnerable. By definition they don’t know what to do.” Psychologists say gaslighters are typically narcissists because they are more invested in getting what they want, regardless of the needs of other people, and then feeling no remorse. The gaslighter generally holds the following beliefs: 1. It is acceptable to override another person’s reality 2. People can be controlled and possessed 3. Being challenged is unacceptable Beating Down the Opponent Tenacity and repetition are critical components of gaslighting, particularly in politics. Lying, denying and twisting reality to deceive and gain control is a classic characteristic of gaslighters. The idea is to wear down the victim by constantly challenging what they believe to be true. Repeated claims that the news is always 100% truth and that the "we are all going to die of coronavirus unless all of mankind gets vaccinated" are typical examples of undermining people’s judgment and encouraging them to doubt what they can clearly see for themselves. Gaslighters will frequently attempt to apply slanderous, non evidence-based terms such as "anti vaxer", "super spreaders", and "vaccine hesitancy" in attempt to marginalize their target group. The purpose of this kind of labeling is two fold. First, it attacks the feeling of "safety" of those who have gone along with the agenda, by baselessly painting those who do not comply as somehow dangerous or "the problem". Second, it is an attempt to isolate the target group and to remove their feeling of "belonging".