More and more people are becoming aware of the term ‘gaslighting’, and how it can be weaponised in interpersonal relationships.
But, the term is often misused, according to forensic psychologist and YouTuber Dr Sohom Das, who has previously defined the term, saying: ‘[It] is a form of emotional abuse that comes from manipulating somebody into questioning their own sanity, their own memories, or their perception of reality.
‘It’s a deliberate attempt to erode someone’s sense of trust in themselves and their experiences. So you can think of it as a covert form of control and domina
Now Birmingham-based expert Dr Lalitaa Suglani has revealed five forms of gaslighting in an Instagram post.
The clinical psychologist, who has some 162,000 followers on the platform, is also the author of High-Functioning Anxiety A 5-step Guide To Calming The Inner Panic and Thriving.
In her post on Instagram, Dr Suglani listed five forms of gaslighting, sharing a brief description for each one.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), to gaslight is to ‘manipulate another person into doubting their perceptions, experiences, or understanding of events’.
The APA says: ‘The term once referred to manipulation so extreme as to induce mental illness or to justify commitment of the gaslighted person to a psychiatric institution but is now used more generally.
‘It is usually considered a colloquialism, though occasionally it is seen in clinical literature, referring, for example, to the manipulative tactics associated with antisocial personality disorder.’
Birmingham-based expert Dr Lalitaa Suglani (pictured) is a clinical psychologist and author of High-Functioning Anxiety A 5-step Guide To Calming The Inner Panic and Thriving
1. Witholding
According to the psychologist, this is when the gaslighter ‘refuses to listen or avoids understanding.
2. Countering
This is described by Dr Suglani as when ‘they question your memory and recollection of events’.
3. Blocking and diverting
This, said the psychologist, is when they attempt to change the subject and steer the conversation to questioning you instead.
4. Trivialising
Dr Suglani said: ‘[This is] when they minimise your feelings and emotions. They make you feel meaningless and unimportant.’
Gaslighting can cause major emotional damage in relationships – and can occur within dynamics outside of romantic partnerships
5. Forgetting and denial
‘[This is] when they act like they don’t remember a situation or conversation that occurred,’ wrote the psychologist.
The topic of gaslighting is one that a number of mental healthcare professionals have spoken out about, in an attempt to help educate the public about what the term refers to in.
In a video on his YouTube channel A Psych for Sore Minds, London-based forensic psychologist Dr Sohom Das busted five myths around gaslighting.
Among those five myths, were that gaslighting only happens in romantic relationships (it can happen within other dynamics, including parent-child and between co-workers, for example).
Other myths included that it’s a good idea to confront your gaslighter directly, that gaslighting is always intentional; that only people with low intelligence can be gaslighted (anyone can be susceptible) and that gaslighting is a modern phenomenon.
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