Gaslighting.

    Gaslighting seems to becoming popular with certain people these days. It is a tactic used to manipulate other people’s thoughts and to help them gain power. It is a form of brainwashing and is a common technique used by dictators, politicians, abusers and cult leaders, which starts of deliberately slowly but once established takes on a life of its own.

    A book by Stephanie A Sarkis Ph.D on the subject identifies certain techniques used by gaslighters. See if you can recognise anyone from the following description:

• They tell blatant lies.
• They deny they ever said something, even though you have proof.
• They try to use what is near and dear to you as ammunition against you.
• They try to wear you down over time.
• Their actions do not match their words.
• They throw in positive reinforcement to confuse you.
• They know confusion weakens people.
• They accuse you of what they do themselves to distract their own behaviour.
• They try to align people against you.
• They tell you and others you are the problem not them.
• They indicate everyone is a liar except them.