In today’s article, we are going to talk about the warning signs of gaslighting in relationships.
You’re probably familiar with the term gaslighting—but what is it exactly? Simply put, it’s a manipulative tactic used to shift the power dynamic in a healthy relationship such that one person has complete control over the other. To gain insight into the psychology behind this toxic relationship dynamic, we asked psychotherapist Jeremy Bergen, MS, LCPC, to weigh in.
What Is Gaslighting?
Gaslighting is a form of sustained psychological manipulation that causes the victim to question or doubt his or her sanity, judgment, and memories.
“At its heart, gaslighting is emotional abuse,” explains Bergen. “It’s a tactic one partner uses in an effort to exert power over, gain control over, and inflict emotional damage on the other.” According to Bergen, “Gaslighting is such a malicious form of emotional abuse because it causes you to question your experiences, so it can be difficult to identify the warning signs.”
Ahead, Bergen breaks down the psychology behind gaslighting in relationships, including how to identify the warning signs, how to understand the reasoning behind this venomous behavior, and how to navigate the next steps.
Here are the top 11 warning signs of Gaslighting in relationships.
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