GASLIGHTING

What Does GASLIGHTING Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

GASLIGHTING means "Undermining Someone's Reality."

More Observations...

GASLIGHTING is type of manipulation in which the manipulator gets a person or a group of people to question their own reality. GASLIGHTING is common in toxic romantic relationships, but can happen in any setting in which a person has power over others and those being gaslighted are concerned about losing or upsetting the gaslighter (e.g., between parents and children, between siblings, and in the workplace). The term GASLIGHTING originates from the 1938 mystery thriller Gas Light, by British playwright Patrick Hamilton. In 1944, the play was made into a popular movie starring Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman as husband and wife Gregory and Paula. In the film, Gregory manipulates Paula into believing she can no longer trust her own perceptions of reality. In one scene, Gregory causes the gaslights in the house to flicker. When Paula asks why the lights are flickering, Gregory insists that it's not happening and that she must be imagining it. Hence the term GASLIGHTING was born.

Image for GASLIGHTING

When I write GASLIGHTING, I mean this:

GASLIGHTING is a form of manipulation.

Summary of Key Points

"Undermining Someone's Reality" is, by far, the most common meaning for GASLIGHTING when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)