This is evil and it destroys people. Let's just get that out of the way. Nonetheless, suppose you need to make someone distrust their own memory and perception of reality. Suppose you want someone to believe in you more than they believe in themselves.
Regardless of your malicious motive, the tool you're looking for is an insidious form of deception known as "gaslighting."
So, What Is Gaslighting?
Gaslighting is basically "crazy making." It's most often used by sociopaths, cult leaders, lawyers, and bad boyfriends. The goal is to convince a person that they're insane and that none of their memories or beliefs are reliable. By destroying their trust in themselves, you make them totally dependent on you and essentially design their understanding of what's real.
I told you this was evil.
The psychological term originated with the play Angel Street and its subsequent Gaslight films, in which a husband attempts to convince his wife she is crazy by manipulating small elements of her environment.
And this was all just so he could get the jewels he failed to steal the first time. I won't spoil it for you, but you should really watch one of the film versions.
Step 1: Create an Addict
Calling people crazy will only leave you lonely, that is, unless those people are literally addicted to you.
When we excite someone we alter the chemical makeup of their brain by triggering the release of endorphins and dopamine. Using the same chemicals that provide heroin users with their high, a gaslighter hooks their victim before the manipulation phase. This is one reason why gaslighting is commonly used in romantic relationships.
Personally, when I think of a charming manipulator, I think of Hannibal Lecter. He's a terrible person, but from the minute he starts talking you're rooting for him. His charm, his intellect, his poise, everything about his personality is addictive.
Step 2: Remember Every Mistake
We all misunderstand things, but that doesn't mean we misunderstand everything. A gaslighter, however, is sure to remember every mistake and misinterpretation their victim makes in order to later delegitimize their victim's ability to make a decision.
"Remember the last time you tried to do this..."
Eventually, the victim begins to see how often they are wrong and will turn to the gaslighter for solutions to their problems.
Step 3: Act Like You Don't Understand
The gaslighter is the master logician and everyone else is wrong. When a victim makes an argument, the gaslighter will either dismiss it as illogical, unreasonable, blown out of proportion, or flat-out unreal.
The gaslighter later reveals the "correct" answer and presents it as "simple reasoning." Over time, this slowly dismantles the victim's trust in their own ability to reason.
Step 4: Selective Forgetting
Try telling someone that they didn't do something that they actually did. "I don't remember you doing that." If you're insistent enough and the event is small enough, like flushing the toilet or turning off the lights, you will see how easy it is to manipulate someone's memory. After repeated exposure, they'll begin to question the reliability of their own memory.
Remember how weird you felt at the end of Shutter Island? Well, before Leo's character lost his mind, Martin Scorsese sprinkled subtle events into scenes that left us unsure of our own recollection of events. He gaslighted us.
You could also go the other way with this technique, by telling someone that they did do something that they actually didn't.
Step 5: Trivialize Their Concerns
Gaslighting drains its victims, leaving them depressed and insecure. They will begin to voice their concerns, at which time the gaslighter dismisses them as overly emotional and, of course, illogical.
Gaslighters convince their victims not to trust their feelings and instincts, and instead rely on the gaslighter as a source of reason.
There you have it. While this isn't a comprehensive guide (you won't believe how many techniques there are), it's enough to get you started. And while most of these tips use verbal communication against them, there are trickier ways to gaslight (think Amelie and the grocer).
While you probably won't be able to gaslight correctly on your first try, practice makes perfect. Mindfucking ain't easy, but it's definitely not impossible (nor entirely recommended).
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22 Comments
Jeez...that's scary...But its still cool! I'll try to do this to someone someday when she/he doesn't believes on me...And them I will get an entry card to the Decepticons. Ha!
A day after a man goes on a misogynist fueled murder spree Wonder How To posts an article on how to abuse someone in one of the most sinister and damaging ways possible? This is fucking outrageous.
.... Kind of completely unrelated.
No, it isn't. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/power-in-relationships/200905/are-you-being-gaslighted
Gaslighting is psychological abuse perpatrated overwhelmingly by men towards their women partners.
Gaslighting can be perpetrated by anyone from kids to elderly not forgetting women. Also, the best way to protect yourself against it is to be aware of it. Only stupid and vulnerable people think like you just argued.
"Know yourself and Know your enemies, 100 battles 100 victories" by Sun Tsu
I know and I am super aware but when someone is a master at it, it is very easy to get thrown off balance in the heat of the moment. I know I'm right, I never question that but no matter w andht I say he twists it to fit him. If I get him on something he resorts to threats and he will not let it go until I'm just like, to hell with this and beat his ass
I've even taken pictures but he even tries to discredit those. He doesn't bother me because I can make him leave me alone but he does this to my mom. She is old and he constantly tries to make her think she's crazy and will start a fight by saying she threw away something of no value and he screams and makes her doubt herself and always lies and says something didn't happen or it did and she doesn't remember and tells her she's losing her mind but she's sharp as can be when I'm around and talk about the past. He is a master manipulator and controlling and yes it is very evil and he does get violent sometimes if she stands up to him. Now that I'm grown that has stopped after I was able you take up for her.
Super curious,
what about it makes it one of the most sinister and damaging ways possible to abuse someone? Is there a source you can cite to back up that claim, cause off the top of my head I'd be inclined to rattle off
1, the abuse of a child, sexually or physically
2, having to fight in a war and watching people get killed in front of you everyday like its a job
Those are just 3 quick ones that get my vote in far surpassing gas lighting as sinister and damaging.
And if by chance there is some correlation of this article in regards to the situation you referenced I would likely guess it because perhaps the topic of gas lighting was relevant to that situation and not everyone instantly understands what the term actually means. wonderhowto simply explained it in a way that is relevant to what the sites about. How to do something...actually a clever and poignant way to touch on a subject recently in the news . fucking outrageous? Not so much... fucking well played? no doubt!
Ive seen first hand since i was born what gaslighting is and can do. My dad being the victim and my mom the Black Widow (My term). However, none of this hit me completely until about 6 months ago when I became the target and everything just clicked and ill tell you this, My dad was a wealthy hard working man all my youth. He owned a few homes and my mom had nothing, anyways now if you look at my dad you would think hes been through hell. Believe me, the last 6 months of my life i would trade to survive a war anyday. My dad owns not a damn thing now since she took it all in her divorce...however the nice house we have she had no choice but to get me as a cosigner on a refianace a while back and thats why my dad is still here and thats why im a target now cuz the black widow can suck this can of fucking RAID. Last edit but i really wanted to answer your question. My sister is also her minion shes pretty much taken one of my shitty cars and idk where she is or where it is and my dads be gaslighted to the point he thinks the divorce he deserved and the 2 bitches can do no wrong. cops called on me 6 or 7 times at my own house all kinds of shit. HELL my friend. HELL
Being forced to survive a genocide isn't abuse. How many people deal with being forced to participate in a genocide? George Soros said he loved it, was the best time of his life. Would you be ok with someone constantly making your mom question her sanity, starting arguments and threatening and screaming at her for something that they made up. Most of the time it leads to violence and this can go on all day everyday. It goes way deeper than changing the settings on some lights. I've been around it my whole life and to see someone treat my mom like that does not set well with me. It's done in a way that seems innocent, at least he tries to downplay it but I know what he is doing and I give him some abuse but I'm not there 24/7 to stop it.
Shit, i just discovered that i actually i'm a psycopath.
I have been using most of these advices and i can think of more of these tricks. I used them mostly to get out of trouble with my parents, but damn what a hard way to learn about yourself.
Ha! My thoughts exactly. I'm pretty sure I used to do this to my younger brother, unintentionally, of course. Step # 3 is still something I do all the time, but that's just because I like arguing.
First of all no, little kids and the elderly do not gaslight! They are pure of heart. Second of all, don't be so nieve, know your surrounding, know who your dealing with and if you have the slightest inkling that you are being "gaslighted" do it back! People who are too busy on the offense don't feel that they need to be on the defense. Beat at them at their own game and that right there will take care of that problem.
Oh then once you've taken care of this... Leave them! They are only insecure crazy people who can't take care of themselves, you are better off without that bullshit!!!
Do you let your gaslighter know that you know they are doing it
I know my partner is gaslighting me and I know it's attentional and I know he knows what hes doing but he doesn't know what gaslighting is and he doesn't realize that it all comes together like it does
want him to see it all on paper in front of him
So he knows what I'm talking about that I understand because if I ever tried to talk to him about it he would shut me down
I have been gaslighted for a very long time.
The only way to fight it is to stay true blue.
As long as you are true to yourself, they can't destroy you. <3
This is a sarcastic article, right? Poking fun at malignant narcs is always humorous. Gaslighting others to get what you want is a predominant prerequisite to narcisistic personality, and psychopathic/ other "cluster" personality disorders. These techniques aren't cute little hacks, this is a form of psychological warfare against others. Unless you are in charge of our nation's defense etc., you should NEVER use gaslighting on another human being! Not ever. Gaslighting is a form of severe- mental abuse, and those who believe they have the right to abuse others to get what they want can line up behind the likes of Ted Bundy and Scott Peterson. Fight gaslighting by cutting off all contact with narcissists, walk out the door; and never look back. If it's someone you can't avoid, don't engage. These malignant types thrive on confrontation, and you could find yourself on the wrong end of a narcisistic rage. The rages can lead to violence and even worse. Gaslighting can also lead to depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other serious disorders for victims of such abuse. It can lead to suicide, murder, and even entire genocides. This isn't something to be taken lightly. Thousands, if not millions of people have died from suicide or homicide, or homicide-by-proxy; as a direct result of the techniques you've just described. You don't need to return psychotic behavior with more psychotic behavior- all you really need to do is to tell that malignant psycho to eff off, then remind them that you will not enable their sociopathic ways...Dont engage. Only respond in a neutral way if you must engage, then get away.
Good read, but hopefully this info doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Thank you.
my ex-girlfriend did this to me all the time for 3 years..
Dear, Mr. Mind-Hacks,,,.
I am writing to you to inform you of the status of me.
I Used your GUide Very Successfully in my endevors and I Would love to thank you,,,
With Much Love<<,,,,
Me.
Big like ??
This has been a very helpful article. I first stumbled upon it years ago and I've used it as a valuable resource since then. I hadn't been very good at gaslighting but over time and practice, I've got to a point where it's made life so much easier. My girlfriend and I don't fight nearly as much as I can shut it down really fast with the right phrasing or questions. She's also more inclined to be intimate which is also pretty nice. Family squabbling has ceased as well as I've convinced them I'm always right. Again, can't thank you enough for this.
that's crazy I was interested in tactics of manipulation because people are fucked up and i wanted to check the comments, other than that I hope you all know that people can be smarter than your lil bitch moves and call you out; beware about that.
Everyone who manipulate people are most likely going to end up in hell, good-luck.
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