Although we don’t like the term “gaslighting” too much, the concept is a real one and it’s extra divisive when we wind up doing it to ourselves.
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which the abuser attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in their victim’s mind. Typically, gaslighters are seeking to gain power and control over the other person, by distorting reality and forcing them to question their own judgment and intuition.
From wikipedia:
The term “gaslighting” derives from the title of the 1944 film “Gaslight” in which a husband uses trickery to convince his wife that she is mentally unwell so he can steal from her. It refers to the illumination of the house which seems to waver whenever the wife is alone at home. The term “gaslighting” itself is not in the screenplay or mentioned in the movie.
We make our way through this Instagram post from mindful_tom