The Gaslighting Phenomenon

Definition and techniques of reality manipulation

Gaslighting is an insidious form of psychological abuse designed to make the victim doubt his or her own perception of reality, memory and judgment.

The goal is to mentally destabilize the person so that he or she becomes dependent on the abuser's "truth".

This manipulation is executed gradually and deliberately, using techniques such as outright denial of events that have occurred ("that never happened", "you're imagining it") or outright lying about shared events.

A frequent tactic is projection: the abuser accuses the victim of the same behaviors he or she commits, such as infidelity or lying, putting the victim on the defensive for non-existent transgressions.

It is also common for them to alternate abusive behavior with periods of affection and flattery, creating cognitive dissonance in the victim ("if he treats me so well now, maybe I exaggerated before"), which reinforces the confusion.

The abuser may hide everyday objects and then deny having done so, suggesting that the victim is careless or losing his or her mind.

Impact on the victim's mental health (Doubt and confusion).

The cumulative effect of these maneuvers is the profound erosion of the victim's mental health.

Constantly being questioned, the person begins to internalize the idea that her mind is unreliable.

The abuser often labels her as "crazy," "too sensitive," or "unstable," not only to herself but to others, in order to discredit her socially and further isolate her.

The victim ends up living in a state of perpetual doubt, questioning her own sanity and memory.

She feels obliged to apologize for things she has not done or for reactions that are completely natural in the face of abuse.

This manipulation leads to severe psychological burnout, where the person loses her sense of identity and autonomy, relying more on the distorted version of reality offered by her abuser than on her own senses.

It is a cycle of invalidation that can lead to chronic anxiety, depression a