Gaslighting: A Tool for Behavioral Manipulation

By Dan Harkey

Gaslighting, a prevalent form of manipulation, is not just a concept from a 1940s film; It's an intentional and insidious tactic used in everyday life. It's intentional psychological abuse by an abuser who attempts to sow seeds of self-doubt and confusion in their victim’s mind. The abuser distorts reality and forces the victim to question their qualities or judgments.

Think of a boss or a significant other who constantly undermines your confidence, a partner who denies things they've said or done, or a friend who discounts your visions, judgments, and memories. There is nothing like a backhanded compliment suggesting that your successes are deficient or inadequate to infuse subconscious doubt. These are all examples of gaslighting, and those adept at using it are attempting to manipulate and seek control over others.

The term gaslight came from the 1940 film Gaslight, which was remade in 1944. In the movie, the husband secretly dims and brightens the indoor gas-powered lighting to make his wife think she is descending into a state of insanity.

Much later, in 2021, the American Psychological Association referred to gaslighting as “once referred to manipulation so extreme as to induce mental illness or to justify the commitment of the victim (gaslighted person) to a psychiatric institution.”

Gaslighting is not just a personal issue; it's a societal one. It's used by governments, institutions, and corporations as an effective tool over long periods to distort realities, creating anxiety disorders, depression, submission, dependency, and to create low self-esteem.

Countries have used gaslighting, a device of torment and deconstruct, to paralyze the ability of targeted people who are hostile, adversarial, and rebellious to avoid imprisoning them. Otherwise, in some cases, most occupants in the country would be imprisoned or sent to the gulags as prisoners in mass. This shows how gaslighting can control entire populations and perpetuate power and authority over others.

Every society has allowable levels of deviant behavior patterns-actions or behaviors that go against societal norms, expectations, and laws, no matter how artificially constructed. Controlling and manipulating these patterns is a method to perpetuate power and authority over others. Deviancy standards may go up or down to the point where society will disintegrate. So, by tools of gaslighting, psychological manipulations, and propaganda, the masses can be controlled within the confines of allowable behavior deviancy standards.

Robert Bork discussed the process in their book, “Slouching Toward Gomorrah.”Slouching meant sliding down a “slippery slope” toward total societal immorality and disintegration. He argued that when Americans' actions gather downward momentum toward a slope of destruction in the form of deviant behavior. The country is forced to redefine “deviancy standards” to make yesterday's deviant behavior normal and acceptable today. Does that sound familiar?

Why am I bringing up this subject? The masses have always been manipulated, but one can circumvent the intended damage control with the power of healthy skepticism, critical thinking, and analytical skills. There is no need to fall prey to false or fraudulent infused narratives designed to control you. By honing your critical thinking skills, you reinforce your power and resist gaslighting.

Thank you

Dan Harkey

Educator and Private Money Lending Consultant

949 533 8315? [email protected]

Visit www.danharkey.com

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